PR86325

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, October 28, 2020, /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Under the auspice of the G20 International Conferences and Events, and the

Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia "The Future of Hospitality Summit" concluded

today after two days of conversations. Key players of the travel and tourism industry,

from both the public and private sector, gathered to discuss reshaping the tourism

landscape for recovery by promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.  

The Future Hospitality Summit gathered over 6,000 participants, in Riyadh and

virtually, from all over the world to discuss a path forward based on building

a tourism and hospitality sector that is relevant to a post-pandemic world and

attractive to future travelers, consumers and workers. Speakers, including His

Excellency Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the UN World Tourism

Organization and Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of the World Tourism Council,

among other government leaders and industry giants, also considered ways of

encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, while ensuring that tourism

development remains sustainable in economic and environmental terms.

Reflecting on the success of the Future Hospitality Summit, His Excellency

Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia said: "The Future

Hospitality Summit has convened leaders from national governments and the

global hospitality sector to put tourism at the heart of the agenda, resulting

in an exciting and productive dialogue across the international community. The

past two days have highlighted the vital importance of public-private sector

collaboration, as well as community engagement, to drive forward the tourism

and hospitality sectors' contribution to the global economic recovery.

Embracing technology and innovation as we rethink the future of tourism, using

them as tools to ensure that the sector is more sustainable, will create

opportunities for everyone, and a sector that is more resilient than ever before".

The G20 are ensuring a safe recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

on the travel and tourism sector and are working collectively to safeguard

lives and livelihoods and create a more resilient sector in the long-run.

Earlier this month G20 ministers endorsed the Diriyah Communique, which

included actions and guidelines towards an inclusive and safe recovery from the pandemic.

The travel and tourism sector contributed to 10.3% of the world's gross

domestic product (GDP) and 330 million jobs (direct, indirect, and induced) in

2019. Today it is one of the most heavily impacted sectors by the COVID-19

pandemic, with an anticipated 60-80% decline in international tourism in 2020.

Swift and coordinated efforts are needed to restore growth in an industry that

accounts for or 28% of the world's service exports and it generates a greater

impact on domestic economies than overall exports. The sector also has a

workforce comprised of 54% women, compared to 39% in the broader global economy.

The G20 Tourism ministers agreed during their working sessions that

facilitating the sector's recovery and resiliency from the pandemic entails,

among other measures to:

Support those most impacted by the crisis within the sector, including women,

and micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and economies that

rely on travel and tourism.

Plan tourism as a growth enabler, improving sustainability and inclusive

community development, and supporting regional and local economies.

Enhance connectivity and creative use of new technologies to improve safety and

security, and the traveler experience.

The G20 International Conferences and Events (IC&E) facilitates conversations

that matter among  the private sector, scientific community, civil society,

government,  media and the general public, amplifying G20 Initiatives and their

impact in the protection of lives and livelihoods, the restoration of growth

for all and the shaping of a better world.

SOURCE: G20 International Conferences and Events