DALLAS — Fears of the broader impact on travel that
reaction to the recent terror attacks could have dominated the discussion at
the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Global Summit here.
“Everyone in this room understands how tourism is
negatively impacted when visitors do not feel safe,” said keynote speaker Penny
Prtizker, U.S. Secretary of Commerce. “Hospitality and national security are
not mutually exclusive. We cannot afford to let security challenges stop the
great progress we have made in recent years. Providing a welcoming experience
while ensuring safety and security requires all of us to work together."
WTTC CEO David Scowsill called on governments stop the
instinct to close borders, and to instead work to improve international
intelligence and security agency cooperation.
“The combination of global terrorism and an international
refugee crisis is creating an unprecedented threat,” he said. “World leaders
need to stand up together and to act now. And it is our role as travel and
tourism leaders to make that happen.”
Scowsill said the travel industry has to “prevent an
over-reaction from governments, who are wrestling with the question: ‘How can
we keep our borders safe, while keeping those same borders open to travelers
and tourists?’”
Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson called the
recent spate of terror attacks the “greatest threat to international travel in
recent memory,” and said the fear could give rise to the instinct to “close the
doors, lock yourself inside and reduce threats and uncertainties.”
Sorenson was one of many speakers that made references to
Donald Trump throughout the day, without actually mentioning his name.
“We have a presidential candidate in the U.S. who literally
talks about building walls,” Sorenson said. “But candidates all around the
world are building fear and emphasizing borders and we need to find a way to stand up with
leadership to counteract those trends."
Many speakers said the answer to that rhetoric was the
message about the economic engine that travel is.
“When you look at the statistics, roughly 10% of
GDP around the world is driven by travel,” Sorenson said. “We know we have the
power to create jobs, and build bridges.”