WTTC Global Summit to bring together 100+ speakers under FUTU[RE]SET theme

The programme will feature an extensive delegation of leaders from G20 economies and others, alongside representatives from international institutions, government bodies and many of the world's most prominent Travel & Tourism businesses. 

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled the full programme for its 26th Global Summit in Valletta, Malta, bringing together more than 100 global speakers. Taking place under the theme FUTU[RE]SET, over two days, the Summit will welcome CEOs, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Commissioners, senior policymakers, tourism authorities and former Heads of State from every region of the world to discuss the forces reshaping global Travel & Tourism.

The programme will feature an extensive delegation of leaders from G20 economies and others, alongside representatives from international institutions, government bodies and many of the world's most prominent Travel & Tourism businesses. The Summit programme is reportedly built around WTTC's eight strategic priorities: enabling safe and seamless travel, strengthening destination stewardship, advancing sustainability, harnessing emerging technologies and AI, improving crisis preparedness, expanding connectivity, developing the workforce of the future and unlocking investment and economic growth opportunities.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “The WTTC Global Summit brings together an extraordinary range of voices at a moment when Travel & Tourism is being reshaped by AI, technology, changing traveller expectations, geopolitics and new patterns of investment and growth. Our eight strategic priorities provide a clear framework for action, but it is through conversations like these – bringing governments and business leaders together – that we can turn opportunities into progress. Malta provides an exceptional setting to challenge thinking, share solutions and build the partnerships needed to shape the next decade of our sector.”

Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, said: “The programme for FUTU[RE]SET reflects the extraordinary breadth of issues shaping the future of Travel & Tourism. Over the summit, leaders from across our global industry will address some of the most important questions facing our sector. What makes this programme particularly valuable is the diversity of perspectives it brings together. Airlines, airports, hotels, cruise operators, technology companies, governments, tourism authorities and international organisations will all have a seat at the table, creating an important platform for sharing experience, challenging established thinking and identifying opportunities for collaboration.”

A key feature of the programme will be the exclusive Global Leaders Dialogue, which will bring together Ministers, policymakers and global business leaders for candid discussions on the future competitiveness of Travel & Tourism. The Global Leaders Dialogue will feature two interactive, moderator-led panel discussions, each bringing together eight Ministers and four global CEOs for a genuine exchange of perspectives rather than a series of formal interventions.

The Summit will also mark the launch of the WTTC Youth Movement, a new global initiative designed to inspire greater interest in careers across Travel & Tourism and give young people a meaningful voice in shaping the sector's future. The Summit will also provide the platform for WTTC to accelerate its Together in Travel initiative, a global effort designed to connect, support and champion small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which represent around 85% of the global Travel & Tourism community. 

Across the programme, delegates will explore opportunities and challenges facing the sector through discussions including “Digital Identity: Resetting the Border Experience”, “AI Unlocked: The New Era of Travel”, “Unlocking the Power of Travel & Tourism SMEs”, “Building Resilience in an Age of Disruption”, “Destination Stewardship: The Right Kind of Growth”, “Connecting the World: The Future of Mobility”, “Tourism for All”, and “Public and Private Leadership: The Next Trillion Dollar Investment”.

These conversations will focus on how governments and businesses can work together to accelerate innovation, improve connectivity, enable seamless travel, strengthen sustainability efforts, attract investment, develop talent, support destinations and create greater resilience in an increasingly complex global environment.

The Summit will also examine the future traveller, the growth of luxury and wellness tourism, the emergence of new tourism powerhouses such as India, the changing investment landscape, Europe's future competitiveness, next-generation leadership and the growing importance of accessibility and impact-driven travel.