The Travel & Tourism sector entered 2023 like a marathon runner hitting the last six miles of a race. It fought its way through almost two years of the COVID-19 pandemic — only to be overwhelmed, as the disease waned, by an unprecedented surge in travel by people tired of quarantines and lockdowns.

Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. It employs one in every ten people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more.

Global Travel & Tourism is soaring, and so are the Balearic Islands Palma continues to be a trend-setting destination Local contribution to the sector surpassed €1.5BN, a 128% jump versus 2021

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “In the world of Travel & Tourism, retail tourism’s significance cannot be overstated. Accounting for over $178 billion of global GDP in 2019, it’s time to recognize its true potential.

H. E. Gloria Guevara is a highly-experienced and well-connected global stateswoman who joined the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia as Chief Special Advisor to the Minister in May 2021. Her role is to support the impressive transformation taking place as part of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision, and drive sustainable tourism both in Saudi Arabia & globally. BTN caught up with her to find out more on what she and others like her are doing to promote the need for global sustainability

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2023 Global Trends Report today reveals an encouraging resurgence in Travel & Tourism investment, overcoming pandemic setbacks and signalling a strong return to growth.