A new global index from the World Travel & Tourism Council has assessed how prepared a host of top cities are for future tourism growth. Forecasts show that urbanisation and population growth could add another 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050.

The World Travel & Tourism Council has announced the formation of a global taskforce to help prevent and combat human trafficking - an illicit activity that affects 30 million victims worldwide, and relies on travel networks to operate.

The World Travel & Tourism Council has launched a global best practices recognition initiative in order to equip tourism ministers, sector leaders and policymakers with the insights to develop and implement proven policies in the sector.

“Tourism is truly the best partner for governments to generate economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty,” World Travel & Tourism Council president Gloria Guevara has told delegates at the opening of the annual Global Summit.

The Greek tourism sector grew at a rate of 6.9 per cent in 2018, over three and a half times the pace of its wider national economy, which grew by two per cent.

The global tourism sector grew at 3.9 per cent last year, to contribute a record $8.8 trillion and 319 million jobs to the world economy, according to figures from the World Travel & Tourism Organisation.