kabarsula ‘We are not prepared for another COVID’: WTTC CEO’s stark warning bandar SLOT INDONESIA

The global travel industry is not prepared for another COVID-style crisis, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) president and CEO Gloria Guevara has warned at World Travel Market (WTM) London, despite predicting another record-breaking year for tourism.

Speaking at WTM London on Tuesday (3 November), Guevara described travel and tourism as the world’s most resilient sector but warned that lessons from the pandemic had yet to translate into sufficient preparedness.

“We are not prepared for another COVID globally,” Guevara said.

“We need to make sure that we are prepared and we learned from the past.”

The warning came as Guevara outlined eight priorities for unlocking growth across the global travel industry, including crisis management, seamless travel, connectivity, sustainability, workforce development, technology and investment.

Asia Pacific leads global growth

Despite geopolitical uncertainty, Guevara said the global travel industry was continuing to outperform the wider economy, with Asia Pacific leading the charge.

The region recorded growth of 8 per cent last year, ahead of the Middle East at 5.3 per cent, according to figures presented by WTTC.

For 2026, Asia Pacific tourism growth is forecast at 4.5 per cent, compared with global travel and tourism growth of 2.5 per cent.

Guevara also highlighted China’s growing influence on international tourism, predicting that it would overtake the US in outbound travel in 2026.

China’s relaxation of visa requirements was among the measures she credited with accelerating tourism growth, alongside investment, improved connectivity and a focus on delivering greater value to travellers.

Middle East disruption creates global ripple effect

Guevara also addressed the impact of instability in the Middle East, warning that disruptions to aviation connectivity were affecting destinations far beyond the region.

She pointed to reduced airline capacity, rising jet fuel prices and increased insurance costs as factors placing upward pressure on airfares.

“The domino effect, that’s what we watch,” she said, referring to the consequences for international connectivity and rerouting.

Despite the challenges, WTTC anticipates a V-shaped recovery for the Middle East, with Guevara expressing confidence in the region’s longer-term prospects.

Tourism faces major workforce shortfall

Another significant concern is the industry’s ability to attract and retain workers.

WTTC forecasts that travel and tourism will create 89 million jobs over the next decade, but Guevara warned that 43 million positions could remain unfilled without greater cooperation between industry and governments.

She called for more initiatives to encourage young people to pursue careers in tourism, alongside policies that support workforce development.

Artificial intelligence was another major priority, with Guevara urging governments to strike a balance between protecting businesses and consumers and allowing innovation to flourish.

She also called for greater investment in digital identity and border technology to reduce friction for international travellers.

For Guevara, the industry’s continued growth was evidence of its economic importance, but also reinforced the need for governments and businesses to prepare for future disruption rather than simply react to it.