Former President Barack Obama will be the keynote speaker at
the World Travel & Tourism Council's Global Summit in Seville, Spain, on
April 3.
Gloria Guevara, CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), praised
Obama, saying, "During his time in office, he embodied the notion that
travel and tourism is a driver of economic growth and creator of jobs."
WTTC said Obama is the "natural choice" to
headline this year's summit, the theme of which is "Changemakers" -- people
and ideas defining the future of travel.
Obama served as president from 2009 to 2017. During his
tenure, he signed the Travel Promotion Act, which formed Brand USA, a
public-private entity that markets the U.S. to international visitors. Obama
also eased U.S. travel restrictions to Cuba and issued an executive order to
increase inbound U.S. tourism by easing and expediting U.S. visa practices,
particularly in China and Brazil.