Rome became the global hub for travel and tourism as the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) held its 25th Global Summit, featuring the landmark Global Leaders Dialogue. This high-level forum brought together government ministers and top executives from major international companies to address the industry’s most pressing challenges.

Opening remarks by Gloria Guevara, Interim CEO of the WTTC, and Daniela Santanchè, Italy’s Minister of Tourism, underscored the urgency of strengthening public-private partnerships to secure the sector’s future.

Europe as a model for the world
The first session highlighted Europe’s status as the most visited region globally and its ability to inspire best practices worldwide. According to WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Report, the region’s travel and tourism sector is set to reach a record €2.6 trillion contribution to GDP and support 41.3 million jobs in 2025.

Leaders explored strategies to differentiate European destinations in a highly competitive global market, innovate without sacrificing authenticity, and enhance sustainability as a driver of competitiveness.

Towards seamless travel
The second session focused on removing barriers to the global movement of people. Topics included visa policies, border management, biometric systems, and personalized approaches for youth and travelers with accessibility needs.

Speakers called for greater collaboration between governments and the private sector to deploy digital solutions such as e-visas, biometric identification, and integrated payment and connectivity systems to transform the traveler experience from planning to arrival.

Driving collective action
Throughout the discussions, delegates emphasized the importance of mutual support and shared responsibility between public and private sectors to ensure travel and tourism remain engines of economic growth, cultural exchange, and global connectivity.

“Today’s dialogue highlighted the immense value of bringing governments and industry together at the same table,” said Gloria Guevara. “From Europe’s lessons in sustainability and competitiveness to global solutions to facilitate travel, it’s clear that through collaboration we can unlock the sector’s full potential.”

The Global Leaders Dialogue remains a cornerstone of the WTTC Global Summit, offering a unique platform to chart the sector’s future through open, action-oriented discussions.