Building Bridges Among Global Forces in Tourism Investment

WHAT is at stake: The rapid growth of world tourism over the past two decades has generated unprecedented investment initiatives and collaboration by government leaders, investors and related stakeholders. With a reported 20,000 new jobs created from every US$1 million invested in travel-tourism initiatives, the question becomes, how does one decide where, when and with whom to invest in this prolific generator of new wealth?

The current tourism investment activity has spawned deeper discussions: How can the public and private sectors work together to provide incentive investment opportunities? How can investments be best ‘assured’ to minimize risks? While the majority of investments are often local, these issues are global in scope and of great consequence to today’s leaders in government as well as the hospitality and tourism industries.

WHY now: The ‘essential’ need to harness the forces impacting global tourism and financial sectors has created the need to better identify, communicate and manage current-future trends of tourism investment. Previous investment forums have targeted a specific sector, the World Tourism Investment Summit focuses on tourism investment as it impacts the national economy and stakeholders on a global scale. The WTIS aims to facilitate a broader understanding and encourage mutually beneficial cooperation—in shaping a tourism investment platform within the global marketplace.

WHO will be attending: The World Tourism Investment Summit’s unique forum is extended to 500 global delegates representing over 50 countries. Attendees, who are actively engaged in tourism investment, development and operations, include leading private sector senior executives (i.e. CEOs, Sr. VPs & COOs) from all major sectors (i.e. hospitality, airlines & airports, tour operations, infrastructures and builders etc.), Tourism Ministers, financiers, government leaders including state and city authorities, leaders from international organizations and major stakeholders who share the common objective to acquire new knowledge, broaden networks and foster collaboration.