wttc accessible tourism

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• Published At 19/04/2021

WTTC Releases Major New Paper for Inclusive and Accessible Guidelines to Aid Global Travel and Tourism Recovery

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Providing accessible travel is both a social imperative and a business opportunity.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launches its new high-level guidelines for inclusion and accessibility in the sector which focus on the experience of travellers with disabilities and will help make the Travel & Tourism sector a more inclusive space. These innovative and important guidelines were compiled on the basis of insights and frameworks developed by private sector leaders in Travel & Tourism, travel and disability experts, and research from intergovernmental organisations. Divided into four pillars, the guidelines follow a similar structure to the High-Level Inclusion & Diversity Guidelines and Mental Health Guidelines WTTC released over the past six months. The four key pillars include:

• Developing an inclusive & accessible system
• Creating safe spaces
• Designing an engaging & relevant system
• Exemplifying inclusion & accessibility

Highlights from these important guidelines include providing training to staff on disability awareness and how to support travellers with disabilities, as well as collaborating with other businesses in areas where there are gaps in accessibility knowledge, experience, and services. The report also emphasises the importance of fostering a respectful environment at all locations and for all activities, specifically reminding staff that their attitude towards people with disabilities plays an integral role in making that customer feel welcome and included. There is also an importance given to developing accessibility features that are clear, overt, and which such travellers do not require special assistance from staff to use. Furthermore, the guidelines make clear that businesses should regularly and proactively engage travellers with disabilities in the creation of accessible products and services so that these meet their needs appropriately. They should also include accessibility features from the booking process, enabling travellers with disabilities to engage with the business before booking their travel service or product. Staff should also be empowered to address customer concerns as they occur or to engage other staff members if and where necessary, and inclusive marketing should be developed to dignify representations of all people and authentically represent them. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said: “WTTC is proud to release these important high-level guidelines, which will help Travel & Tourism businesses of all kinds, foster more accessible and inclusive environments. “The Travel & Tourism sector is one of the most diverse in the world. As the report shows and according to the World Health Organization, almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life, and about 15% of the global population live with some form of disability. It is therefore imperative that we are inclusive. “Furthermore, throughout its very nature, the sector promotes cultural exchange and understanding, therefore it makes perfect sense that we reflect these values within the sector as well. We look forward to seeing these guidelines make real change within the workforce.” Peter Kern, Vice Chairman and CEO, Expedia Group said: “Travel opens minds and drives better understanding between people from different cultures and identities, but sometimes travel isn’t inclusive of or accessible for people with disabilities or accessibility needs. We are proud to have collaborated with WTTC on the creation of Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines, a resource we will continue to collaborate on in future development, use in our own business and advocate for their adoption across the travel and tourism industry.” Stacy Ritter, President and CEO, Visit Lauderdale said: “We applaud WTTC on the launch of their Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines. Travelers with disabilities should be embraced, welcomed and celebrated. Visit Lauderdale is committed to this, and we are proud to continue our inclusive and diverse global “Celebrate You” campaign which features disabled residents. To be truly authentic in promoting diversity and inclusion, we must include the disabled community.” Chris Nassetta, President & CEO Hilton, WTTC Chair said: “The Travel & Tourism sector has a unique role to play in building greater understanding in our global community as we welcome travellers of all backgrounds and abilities,” said Chris Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton and Chairman of WTTC. “WTTC’s Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines provide valuable insight for our industry as we continue on our journey to create truly inclusive and unforgettable experiences for all.” John Sage, President, Accessible Travel Solutions and the author of the guidelines said: “People with disabilities (PwD's) have historically encountered many accessibility challenges while traveling. Browsing, booking, flying, sightseeing, relaxing, and sleeping all present their own specific obstacles. Consequently, many PwD's must spend many hours handling their own travel details or they stay home. WTTC's Inclusive and Accessible Travel Guidelines are an important step forward in bringing accessibility into the mainstream thereby making travel accessible for all." Download the PDF document, WTTC Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines.

WTTC’s new paper for Inclusive & Accessible Guidelines to aid tourism recovery

These innovative and important guidelines were compiled on the basis of insights and frameworks developed by private sector leaders in Travel & Tourism, travel and disability experts, and research from intergovernmental organisations.

Divided into four pillars, the guidelines follow a similar structure to the  High-Level Inclusion & Diversity Guidelines and Mental Health Guidelines WTTC  released over the past six months.

The four key pillars include: 1.    Developing an inclusive & accessible system 2.    Creating safe spaces 3.    Designing an engaging & relevant system 4.    Exemplifying inclusion & accessibility

Highlights from these important guidelines include providing training to staff on disability awareness and how to support travellers with disabilities, as well as collaborating with other businesses in areas where there are gaps in accessibility knowledge, experience, and services.

The  report  also emphasises the importance of fostering a respectful environment at all locations and for all activities, specifically reminding staff that their attitude towards people with disabilities plays an integral role in making that customer feel welcome and included.

There is also an importance given to developing accessibility features that are clear, overt, and which such travellers do not require special assistance from staff to use.

Furthermore, the guidelines make clear that businesses should regularly and proactively engage travellers with disabilities in the creation of accessible products and services so that these meet their needs appropriately. They should also include accessibility features from the booking process, enabling travellers with disabilities to engage with the business before booking their travel service or product.

Staff should also be empowered to address customer concerns as they occur or to engage other staff members if and where necessary, and inclusive marketing should be developed to dignify representations of all people and authentically represent them.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC  said:  “WTTC is proud to release these important high-level guidelines, which will help Travel & Tourism businesses of all kinds, foster more accessible and inclusive environments.

“The Travel & Tourism sector is one of the most diverse in the world. As the report shows and according to the World Health Organization, almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life, and about 15% of the global population live with some form of disability. It is therefore imperative that we are inclusive.

“Furthermore, throughout its very nature, the sector promotes cultural exchange and understanding, therefore it makes perfect sense that we reflect these values within the sector as well. We look forward to seeing these guidelines make real change within the workforce.”

Peter Kern, Vice Chairman and CEO, Expedia Group  said:  “Travel opens minds and drives better understanding between people from different cultures and identities, but sometimes travel isn’t inclusive of or accessible for people with disabilities or accessibility needs. We are proud to have collaborated with WTTC on the creation of Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines, a resource we will continue to collaborate on in future development, use in our own business and advocate for their adoption across the travel and tourism industry.”

Stacy Ritter, President and CEO, Visit Lauderdale  said:  “We applaud WTTC on the launch of their Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines. Travelers with disabilities should be embraced, welcomed and celebrated. Visit Lauderdale is committed to this, and we are proud to continue our inclusive and diverse global “Celebrate You” campaign which features disabled residents. To be truly authentic in promoting diversity and inclusion, we must include the disabled community.”

Chris Nassetta, President & CEO Hilton, WTTC Chair  said:  “The Travel & Tourism sector has a unique role to play in building greater understanding in our global community as we welcome travellers of all backgrounds and abilities,” said Chris Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton and Chairman of WTTC. “WTTC’s Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines provide valuable insight for our industry as we continue on our journey to create truly inclusive and unforgettable experiences for all.”

John Sage, President, Accessible Travel Solutions  and the author of the guidelines said:  “People with disabilities (PwD’s) have historically encountered many accessibility challenges while traveling. Browsing, booking, flying, sightseeing, relaxing, and sleeping all present their own specific obstacles. Consequently, many PwD’s must spend many hours handling their own travel details or they stay home. WTTC’s Inclusive and Accessible Travel Guidelines are an important step forward in bringing accessibility into the mainstream thereby making travel accessible for all.”

To read the Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines in full,  please click here.

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WTTC Introduces New Guidelines to Improve Accessibility in The Travel Sector

Accessibility for all to travel and tourism services and facilities should be a core element in any responsible national or international travel policy. Accessible travel involves collaboration among the government, travel agencies, airlines, hotels, end-users, and other stakeholders. Accessibility in travel benefits not just people with disabilities, but its impact also extends to the wider society and economy.

Common challenges for travelers with disabilities

Persons with disability may encounter a number of challenges during travel, which include but are certainly not limited to:

• Inadequately-trained staff that is unable to address the customer’s accessibility issues or concerns
• Inaccessible online as well as offline travel booking services
• Lack of accessibility at airports and local transfer facilities
• Poor availability of accessible and adapted hotel rooms , rest rooms , restaurants , and stores in tourist locations
• Inaccessible streets, public places, and transportation services
• Lack of information about accessible services, facilities, and equipment at travel and tourist destinations.

New global travel guidelines from WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) recently unveiled a set of new Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines (PDF) to improve accessibility in the travel sector. The objective of these guidelines is to help make the travel sector more inclusive, while providing a safer and more comfortable experience to travelers and tourists with disabilities.

The WTTC prepared these guidelines using inputs from the corporations involved in the business of travel and tourism, private and government researchers, and disability experts. Some of the notable guidelines include:

• Periodically train the staff on disability awareness and the most appropriate solutions to support travelers and tourists with disability.
• Collaborate with travel and tourism related businesses to plug gaps in accessibility services, experience, and knowledge.
• Foster a transparent and bias-free environment of respect at all locations as well as all travel and tourism related activities.
• Monitor and incentivize the travel and hospitality staff to encourage behavior that makes customers with disability feel welcome and included.
• Develop accessibility features at all travel points that are clear and easy-to-understand so that travelers with disability require minimal or no special assistance from the attending staff for their use.
• Businesses related to travel and hospitality must proactively and regularly seek feedback from and involve travelers with disability while creating new accessible services and products in order to meet their requirements more effectively.
• Businesses should incorporate appropriate accessibility features in the booking and reservations process that enables travelers with disability to independently engage/negotiate with the business and obtain all relevant information before they book their travel service.
• Travel and hospitality staff should be empowered to resolve unique customer concerns on their own or in consultation with other team members where necessary.
• Travel and tourism media, communication and marketing materials should be developed with an aim to dignify authentic representations of all people.
• Wherever possible, travel businesses must engage with local governments and industry bodies, including disability organizations, to share visitor suggestions and feedback on accessibility and inclusion in order to widen the scope of more satisfactory traveler experiences in the future.

WTTC President and CEO, Gloria Guevara, summed up the new guidelines by saying that these will help travel and tourism businesses foster more accessible and inclusive environments, which is critical considering the fact that the travel sector is one of the most diverse in the world.

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A United Vision for Nature - 'Nature Positive' Report Marks New Collaborative Era in Travel & Tourism

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• 22 Apr 2024

WTTC, UN Tourism and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance join forces to support Nature Positive Tourism

The leading players of Travel & Tourism globally have published a landmark joint report setting out their joint plan to help halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

Launched on Earth Day 2024, "Nature Positive Travel & Tourism in Action" is the creation of the high-level 'Nature Positive Tourism Partnership, made up of the World Travel & Tourism Council ( WTTC ), the World Tourism Organization ( UN Tourism ) and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance ( the Alliance ).

For years, UN Tourism has been at the forefront of integrating tourism into the broader UN biodiversity agenda, including supporting the work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Developed in collaboration with specialist consultancy ANIMONDIAL, the report is the sector's pledge to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the UN's Biodiversity Plan.

It presents more than 30 case studies of inspiring and progressive actions from around the world involving large and small businesses, national and local government agencies, civil society groups, and inter-sectoral partnerships.

By offering actionable guidance and insights, this report not only highlights the intrinsic link between biodiversity and tourism's resilience, but also empowers businesses to become stewards of nature.

Historic partnership for nature

Ms. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO , said: "This historic partnership with Travel & Tourism heavyweights is a significant step in our collective journey towards a more sustainable and responsible sector. This report is not merely a publication but a movement towards integrating environmental stewardship into the core of travel experiences. As we celebrate Earth Day, let us heed the call to nurture and protect our destinations. Our sector's reliance on nature, coupled with our expertise in creating inspiring and memorable experiences, means we are ideally placed to be guardians of nature."

Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UN Tourism , said: "For years, UN Tourism has been at the forefront of integrating tourism into the broader UN biodiversity agenda, including supporting the work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This pivotal new collaboration among key global players sets a robust framework for sustainable practices that not only drive significant impact but also exemplify the power of united efforts in conserving biodiversity. This report is a testimony to what we can achieve together for nature's preservation, inspiring a global movement towards more sustainable and resilient tourism."

Mr. Glenn Mandziuk, Sustainable Hotel Alliance CEO , said: "This report is a milestone for Travel and Tourism, representing our commitment as an industry to protect and conserve nature. The Alliance is proud to contribute to and collaborate on this insightful and action-orientated report which will bring tangible change to destinations around the world, supporting biodiversity.  Nature underpins our society, economies and indeed our very existence. The hospitality industry is today a leader amongst industries in its Nature Positive approach and this report signifies how much our industry understands the true value of nature."  

Expert-led coalition

Recognising that the sector has a critical role to play in protecting and conserving biodiversity, the Nature Positive Tourism approach is designed to be a touchstone for actionable change. It focuses on equipping the sector with the tools and insights needed to nurture and protect destinations upon which it depends.

The commitment of the Partnership to work towards "net positive for nature" draws on extensive consultation with experts from business, government, academia and civil society, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

The report, which follows the 2022 WTTC report "Nature Positive Travel & Tourism", includes practical frameworks and real-world examples that encourage both travel providers and travellers to embark on journeys that contribute to the conservation of our natural treasures.

Related links

• Download News Release on PDF
• Report “Nature Positive Travel & Tourism”
• UN Tourism Biodiversity
• Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

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WTTC unveils new accessibility guidelines for global travel

April 20, 2021 | News | IMTM

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched its new high-level guidelines for inclusion and accessibility in the sector which focus on the experience of travellers with disabilities and will help make the Travel & Tourism sector a more inclusive space.

These innovative and important guidelines were compiled on the basis of insights and frameworks developed by private sector leaders in Travel & Tourism, travel and disability experts, and research from intergovernmental organisations. 

Divided into four pillars, the guidelines follow a similar structure to the High-Level Inclusion & Diversity Guidelines and Mental Health Guidelines WTTC released over the past six months.

The four key pillars include: 1.    Developing an inclusive & accessible system 2.    Creating safe spaces 3.    Designing an engaging & relevant system 4.    Exemplifying inclusion & accessibility 

Highlights from these important guidelines include providing training to staff on disability awareness and how to support travellers with disabilities, as well as collaborating with other businesses in areas where there are gaps in accessibility knowledge, experience, and services. 

The report also emphasises the importance of fostering a respectful environment at all locations and for all activities, specifically reminding staff that their attitude towards people with disabilities plays an integral role in making that customer feel welcome and included. 

There is also an importance given to developing accessibility features that are clear, overt, and which such travellers do not require special assistance from staff to use.

Furthermore, the guidelines make clear that businesses should regularly and proactively engage travellers with disabilities in the creation of accessible products and services so that these meet their needs appropriately. They should also include accessibility features from the booking process, enabling travellers with disabilities to engage with the business before booking their travel service or product.

Staff should also be empowered to address customer concerns as they occur or to engage other staff members if and where necessary, and inclusive marketing should be developed to dignify representations of all people and authentically represent them.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said: “WTTC is proud to release these important high-level guidelines, which will help Travel & Tourism businesses of all kinds, foster more accessible and inclusive environments.

“The Travel & Tourism sector is one of the most diverse in the world. As the report shows and according to the World Health Organization, almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life, and about 15% of the global population live with some form of disability. It is therefore imperative that we are inclusive.

“Furthermore, throughout its very nature, the sector promotes cultural exchange and understanding, therefore it makes perfect sense that we reflect these values within the sector as well. We look forward to seeing these guidelines make real change within the workforce.”

Peter Kern, Vice Chairman and CEO, Expedia Group said: “Travel opens minds and drives better understanding between people from different cultures and identities, but sometimes travel isn’t inclusive of or accessible for people with disabilities or accessibility needs. We are proud to have collaborated with WTTC on the creation of Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines, a resource we will continue to collaborate on in future development, use in our own business and advocate for their adoption across the travel and tourism industry.”

Stacy Ritter, President and CEO, Visit Lauderdale said: “We applaud WTTC on the launch of their Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines. Travelers with disabilities should be embraced, welcomed and celebrated. Visit Lauderdale is committed to this, and we are proud to continue our inclusive and diverse global “Celebrate You” campaign which features disabled residents. To be truly authentic in promoting diversity and inclusion, we must include the disabled community.”

Chris Nassetta, President & CEO Hilton, WTTC Chair said: “The Travel & Tourism sector has a unique role to play in building greater understanding in our global community as we welcome travellers of all backgrounds and abilities,” said Chris Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton and Chairman of WTTC. “WTTC’s Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines provide valuable insight for our industry as we continue on our journey to create truly inclusive and unforgettable experiences for all.”

John Sage, President, Accessible Travel Solutions and the author of the guidelines said: “People with disabilities (PwD’s) have historically encountered many accessibility challenges while traveling. Browsing, booking, flying, sightseeing, relaxing, and sleeping all present their own specific obstacles. Consequently, many PwD’s must spend many hours handling their own travel details or they stay home. WTTC’s Inclusive and Accessible Travel Guidelines are an important step forward in bringing accessibility into the mainstream thereby making travel accessible for all.”

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Climate & Environmental Action

The urgency of climate change is more evident than ever, as emphasised by the 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. Travel & Tourism is strongly affected by its impacts, but as many other sectors, is also an important emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby actively contributing to climate change. It is therefore of utmost importance to decarbonise the sector as  quickly as possible and reach net zero by 2050.

Driving Climate Action: A Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism

This report aims to offer a better understanding of the status quo of climate action of Travel & Tourism businesses within selected industries, as well as current challenges, opportunities and needs. 

It also provides a decarbonisation corridor framework demonstrating what net zero journeys could look like for different types of businesses and gives guidance and recommendations on potential climate action. 

Further reading, glossary of terms and report methodology can be found in the Annex >

WTTC at COP26

Watch back: a net zero roadmap for travel and tourism, a message from julia simpson, cop26: united for the planet, cop26: a call to action, cop26: a more sustainable future, we are at a critical point in the climate crisis.

WTTC has put climate change front and centre of its priorities. The organisation is engaged in a variety of different initiatives, working closely with its Members and partners to find solutions for this global challenge, with the objective to move towards a net zero emission future for the sector. 

Driven by our Members and the real desire to build back better, WTTC is committed to continuing its efforts to support the sector in combatting climate change through a range of activities including advocacy, research, guidance and collaboration with an incredible network of partners and businesses.

The journey so far

The historic adoption of the paris agreement in 2015 to limit global warming to 1.5°c, the first step was taken in 2019 when wttc became a signatory to unfccc’s climate neutral now (cnn) initiative and announced a first aspirational target for the sector to be climate neutral by 2050 , adoption of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development with its 17 sustainable development goals (sdgs), including goal 17 on climate action, the 2019 un climate action summit, a global movement of younger generation demanding stronger and more targeted actions from governments and businesses worldwide, where we are now, latest activities, glasgow declaration: an urgent global call  for commitment to a decade of climate action for tourism , climate friendly travel registry: for 2050 climate neutral & sustainability ambitions. , latest resources, race to zero – information webinar for members , climate week nyc 2021 net zero travel & tourism - from ambition to action , un climate change conference – the road to climate neutrality in travel and tourism, frequently asked questions, 1. what is net zero.

Net zero is achieved when no incremental greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere. This means that carbon emissions are balanced with the removal of carbon from the atmosphere (e.g. by certified carbon capture, forests, etc.). According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report , we should aim to achieve net zero globally by 2050, at the latest, to avert climate disaster. For more information, read the UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign’s guide to net zero. 

2. What is the Race to Zero?

The Race to Zero is a global UN-backed campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, and investors for a healthy, resilient, and zero-carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth. All members are committed to the same minimum requirements: halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050 at the very latest. They are also aligned to the same overarching meta-criteria: to pledge, plan, proceed and publish. This campaign focuses on mitigation, but our sister campaign, the Race to Resilience, focuses on climate adaptation.

Copyright WTTC © 2021. All rights reserved.

Climate Friendly Travel Registry

WTTC invites and urges all its members to participate in the recently launched Climate Friendly Travel Registry for 2050 Climate Neutral & Sustainability Ambitions. This registry is a platform built in close cooperation with UNFCCC and linked directly to the UN Climate Action Portal. It allows Travel & Tourism organisations to declare transparently and progressively the advancement of their carbon reduction ambitions through to 2050.

Launched together with SUNx Malta, and part of WTTC’s ambition to support the sector and its members achieve climate neutrality by 2050, this important tool not only allows you to register and give visibility to your own climate activities but also to be able to see and learn from the activities and initiatives of others.

SUNx Malta Climate Neutral Ambitions Travel Registry > 

Sunx Malta Registry >

Founding Member

Visit duesseldorf, ole friedrich, germany, miss razan hawwa, courtyard by marriott burlington, ontario, mudi astuti, strategi komunikasi utama, jakarta, indonesia, caribbean office of trade & industrial development limited, christopher byneal, trinidad & tobago, bangladesh international hotel association, h.m. hakim ali, dhaka, bangladesh, ambis university: dr. alžbeta kiráľová, prague, czech republic, honeymoons and get-a-way, nancy barkley, north wales, pa, usa, rudolf herrmann, penang, malaysia, prof. geoffrey lipman, sunx, brussels, belgiu, & malta, protected: frank szczepanski, ivdiagnostics, hi, usa, tarita davenock, travel for all, nanaimo, bc, canada, protected: raju arasaratnam, jetwing travels pvt ltd, colombo, sri lanka, juergen steinmetz, travelnewsgroup, hi, usa, dr. peter tarlow, safertourism, tx, usa, dr. taleb rifai, jordan, hon.edmund bartlett, jamaica, alain st. ange, seychelles, protected: tom jenkins, european tourism association (etoa) , uk, ministry of tourism and wildlife-kenya, h.e. hon. najib balala, nairobi, kenya           , vijay poonoosamy, singapore.

WTTC: World Travel and Tourism Council

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the Travel & Tourism sector globally.

Our  Members  include over 200 CEOs, Chairpersons and Presidents of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. WTTC works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world’s largest economic sectors,  supporting one in 10 jobs (330 million)  worldwide, and  generating 10.3% of global GDP .

For the past 30 years, WTTC has conducted research on the economic impact of Travel & Tourism in 185 countries. In 2019, the Travel & Tourism sector  experienced 3.5% growth , outpacing that of the  global economy (2.5%)  for the ninth consecutive year. Over the past five years,  one in four new jobs were created  by the sector, making Travel & Tourism the best partner for governments to generate employment.

6 Nov, 2023

WebBeds joins WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics initiative .

WebBeds has partnered with World Travel and Tourism Council for Hotel Sustainability Basics.

WebBeds, the global marketplace providing accommodation and ground product distribution services to the travel industry, has partnered with World Travel and Tourism Council for Hotel Sustainability Basics.

As a multinational organization, WebBeds recognizes the importance of global corporate responsibility and is dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint and promoting environmentally responsible and sustainable travel.

By partnering with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Hotel Sustainability Basics initiative, WebBeds provides their hotel partners with access to a globally recognised sustainability verification programme which can be used to highlight a property’s environmental credentials to the travel trade and travellers. Hotels participating in the initiative will be flagged in WebBeds’ booking platforms, enabling travel trade clients to make more informed decisions, based on the sustainability credentials of a property, when recommending hotels to their customers.

Launched at ITB Berlin 2023 by the WTTC, Hotel Sustainability Basics enables tourist accommodation providers from around the world, regardless of their size, to begin their sustainability journey. It is an industry-backed scheme, bringing together a globally recognised set of 12 criteria that all hotels should implement, as a minimum, to drive responsible and sustainable travel & tourism.

The verification scheme enables hotels and other tourist accommodation to be officially verified for meeting eight of the 12 criteria in the first year and demonstrate their commitment to working toward all 12 of the criteria by year three. Together, the criteria ensure the sector is eco resilient and adaptive to the changing needs of the planet.

Daryl Lee, WebBeds CEO said, “Partnering with a globally recognised and respected organisation such as the WTTC is a key step in our ongoing journey to become a more environmentally responsible business. We are making good progress and are committing significant internal and external resource to help us prioritise sustainability initiatives. This programme is an example of how we will also help our partners on their own sustainability journey and to be guided by best practice and globally recognised standards."

Press Release.

WebBeds | WTTC Hotel Sustainability

Webjet Limited is proud to support 40:40 Vision to achieve gender balance in senior leadership by 2030.

Webjet Limited is Toitū ‘net carbonzero’ certified, and are part of a collective of organisations leading the way to a low carbon future.

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Iraqi tourists lead foreign visitors to Iran in 2023, WTTC report

Shafaq News/ Iran's tourism sector significantly increased in 2023, with Iraqis leading foreign visitors.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Iraqis emerged as the top foreign tourists, followed by Turkish visiting Iran, contributing to a growth of 21% in the Iranian tourism industry.

Specifically, Iraqi tourists accounted for 37% of the total foreign tourists visiting Iran in 2023.

Other countries contributing to Iran's tourism included Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Lebanon.

Leisure tourism dominated the landscape, comprising 97.7% of total tourist trips to Iran in 2023, with the remaining 2.3% attributed to business-related travel.

Notably, the economic impact of tourism in Iran was substantial, with foreign tourists spending 70 trillion tomans ($16.6 billion) in the country in 2023. This marked an 83.6% increase compared to 2022.

The WTTC report indicated the global significance of the tourism industry, with its share of global GDP reaching 23.2% in 2023, amounting to 9.1% of the total global GDP. The industry's value surged to $9.9 trillion during the same period, underlining its economic impact on a worldwide scale.

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