Puerto Rico to host WTTC’s 2020 Global Summit

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced that the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico will host its 2020 Global Summit.

The summit, which is regarded as the most important event in the global Travel & Tourism sector, will take place from 21-23 April 2020.

The location was announced at the closing ceremony of the 2019 Global Summit in Seville by Gloria Guevara Manzo, WTTC president and CEO, and Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares.

Puerto Rico, which attracts more than three million visitors each year, will host the event at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan.

Travel & Tourism is one of the leading sectors stimulating economic growth and employment worldwide. In 2018, the global Travel & Tourism sector grew at 3.9% to contribute a record $8.8 trillion and 319 million jobs in the world economy.

Guevara Manzo said: “We are delighted to bring next year’s Global Summit to the beautiful tropical Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, a welcoming and diverse destination, which not only offers visitors glorious beaches, it is also home to the only tropical rainforest in the US.

Gloria Guevara Manzo speaks at the WTTC 2019 Global Summit in Seville

“Our annual Global Summit brings together the most influential figures from the public and private sector to address the challenges and opportunities facing the Travel & Tourism industry and is the most important event in the calendar each year. Hosting the Global Summit in Puerto Rico reflects the commitment and efforts of the government and tourist board to grow both business and leisure travel.”

Rosselló Nevares added: “Travel & Tourism in instrumental in Puerto Rico’s economic development plans, and has proven to be the most resilient sector in our economy. More so, we believe that sound public policy that effectively attends to private sector needs can be a catalyst for change.

“Events like the WTTC Global Summit not only give us an opportunity to showcase the diversity of our destination’s tourism offering, but also facilitate spaces for the public and private sectors to define the future of Travel & Tourism together.”

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) is the Government of Puerto Rico’s Tourism Ministry, and Carla Campos, its Executive Director, stated: “Every destination has a moment in time to claim its place in the global Travel & Tourism scene; Puerto Rico is on the cusp of becoming a next generation tourism destination, and the WTTC Global Summit is the ideal stage to unveil how the public and private sectors are working together to make it happen.

“Tourism is a force for good and an ideal vehicle to improve people’s quality of lives. We share that vision with WTTC members and are honoured to have the opportunity to host Travel & Tourism leaders from around the world in Puerto Rico next year.”