KEY takeaways from opening day of WTTC Global Summit in Malta

The WTTC Global Summit opened in Valletta, Malta
European travel and tourism is forecast to grow 3.1pc in 2026
More than 1,000 delegates including over 200 chief executives are attending
Travel and Tourism is forecast to contribute $4.9bn to Malta’s economy in 2026
Malta recorded the highest annual increase in Travel and Tourism’s GDP contribution among European economies in 2025

The World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit has opened in Malta with forecasts showing European travel and tourism set to grow 3.1pc in 2026, outpacing the wider economy and last year’s 2.6pc rise. The 26th WTTC Global Summit officially opened in Valletta, Malta, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The three-day event brings together more than 1,000 delegates, including over 200 global travel industry chief executives, senior executives and government leaders.

Travel and Tourism is forecast to grow 3.1pc across Europe in 2026, continuing to outperform the wider economy and exceeding the sector’s 2.6pc growth recorded last year. International visitor spending is projected to increase by 5.8pc, while leisure and business travel spending are expected to grow by 3.1pc and 4.2pc respectively. Globally, the sector contributed $11.6 trillion to the economy last year, representing 9.8pc of global GDP, and supported 366m jobs, nearly one in every nine jobs worldwide. Despite geopolitical challenges, the sector is expected to grow 2.5pc this year, outpacing the global economy.

WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research shows that Travel and Tourism is forecast to contribute $4.9bn to Malta’s economy in 2026, representing 16.9pc of the country’s GDP and supporting more than one in five jobs across the country. In 2025, Malta recorded the highest annual increase in Travel and Tourism’s GDP contribution among all European economies, growing by 16.8pc compared with the European average of 2.6pc.

Gloria Guevara shared “Travel & Tourism continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Globally, the sector contributed $11.6 trillion to the economy last year, representing 9.8pc of global GDP, and supported 366m jobs, nearly one in every nine jobs worldwide. Despite significant geopolitical challenges, we expect the sector to grow 2.5pc this year, outpacing the global economy.”

The programme featured leaders from G20 economies alongside representatives from international institutions and tourism businesses. The summit programme has been built around WTTC’s eight strategic priorities including enabling safe and seamless travel, strengthening destination stewardship and advancing sustainability. The Global Leaders Dialogue has brought together Ministers, policymakers and global business leaders.

Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC, shared that the Global Summit brings together an extraordinary range of voices at a moment when travel and tourism is being reshaped by AI, technology and changing traveller expectations. Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, shared that the programme reflects the breadth of issues shaping the future of travel and tourism.

Former Heads of State and Global Political Leaders

Justin Trudeau, Former Prime Minister of Canada
José María Aznar, Former Prime Minister of Spain
Nick Adams, US Minister for Tourism and Presidential Envoy
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, European Commission
Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, European Commission

Ministers

Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects, Malta
Jonathan Attard, Minister for Planning, Infrastructure and Employment, Malta
Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism, Spain
Gianmarco Mazzi, Minister of Tourism, Italy
Patricia de Lille, Minister for Tourism, South Africa
Olga Kefalogianni, Minister of Tourism, Greece
Tonči Glavina, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Croatia
Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Türkiye
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister for Tourism, India
Harris Whitbeck, Minister of Tourism, Guatemala
Abdulmohsen Al-Mazyad, Vice Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Rosario Sanchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism, Spain
Sherif Fathy Attia, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Arab Republic of Egypt
Robert O’Leary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism, US Department of Commerce
Suman Billa, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, India
Bernardo Cueto, Secretary of Tourism, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Michelle Fridman, Secretary of Tourism, State of Jalisco, Mexico

Global Travel & Tourism Industry Leaders

Christopher J. Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton
Elie Maalouf, Global CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Group
Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group
Alejandro Reynal, President & Chief Executive Officer, Four Seasons
Audrey Hendley, President, American Express Travel
Gloria Fluxà, Vice-Chairman & Chief Sustainability Officer, Iberostar Group
William Heinecke, Founder and Chairman, Minor International PCL
Neal Jones, President EMEA, Marriott International
Greg O’Hara, Founder & Senior Managing Director, Certares
Eijiro Yamakita, Chairperson, JTB Corp.
Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO, Accor
Carlo Bonomi, CEO, Investindustrial
Desirée Bollier, Chair & Global Chief Merchant, The Bicester Collection
Cara Morton, CEO, Global Businesses & Operations, Zurich Insurance Group
Ayad Al Balushi, CEO, OMRAN Group
Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports
Tony Fernandes, CEO & Co-Founder, Capital A Group
Jörg Eberhart, CEO, ITA Airways
Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL)
Geoff Freeman, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association
Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global
Qusai Al-Fakhri, CEO, Tourism Development Fund, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California
Aqeel Al-Shibani, CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority
Paolo Barletta, CEO, Arsenale Group
Matthew Upchurch, Chairman & CEO, Virtuoso; Chairman, Together in Travel
Hamza Farooqui, CEO, Millat Group
Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO, Diriyah Company
James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid Travel
Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co.
Pansy Ho, Group Executive Chairman & Managing Director, Shun Tak Holdings
Gaurav Bhatnagar, Co-Founder, TBO.com
Laurent Gardinier, President, Relais & Châteaux
Julie Shainock, Global Managing Director, Microsoft
Christie Travers-Smith, Director, EMEA Strategic Partnerships, Google
Randy Durband, CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
John Sage, Founder & CEO, Accessible Travel Solutions
Shawn Pisani, Vice President, HelmsBriscoe
Mark Weingard, Founder & CEO, Iniala Group
Andrea Grisdale, CEO & Founder, IC Bellagio
Maher Koubaa, President EMEA, Amadeus
Tim Gray, Founder, Health Optimisation

Members of Parliament, Commissioners and International Organisations

Daniel Attard, Member of the European Parliament, Committee on Transport and Tourism
Nikolina Brnjac, Member of the European Parliament, Croatia
Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry and Minerals, African Union
Mohamed AlSharhan, Managing Director, World Governments Summit
Doreen Silver Katusiime, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Uganda
Diane J. Sabatino, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Young Tae Kim, Secretary-General, International Transport Forum
Julian Kassum, Deputy Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce
Don Welsh, President & CEO, Destinations International

Destination, Policy and Tourism Development Leaders

Miguel Sanz, Director-General, Turespaña
Leslie Vella, Chief Officer Strategic Development, Malta Tourism Authority
Kevin Fsadni, Deputy CEO & Chief Officer (Product & Regulatory), Malta Tourism Authority
Bruno Despujol, Global Lead for Leisure & Hospitality, Oliver Wyman
Laura Sileo Pavat, Global Brand Homes Director, Diageo