The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) held its 26th Global Summit in Valletta, Malta in 2026, gathering more than 1,000 delegates, including over 200 CEOs and government leaders from the travel and tourism sector. The event featured over 100 speakers and welcomed notable figures such as former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and U.S. Presidential Envoy for Tourism Nick Adams.
Economic Growth Outlook for Travel & Tourism
During the summit’s opening press conference, WTTC released an economic forecast predicting Europe’s Travel & Tourism sector will grow by 3.1 percent in 2026. This growth rate surpasses
the 2.6 percent increase recorded across the sector in 2025. Globally, the industry is expected to expand by 2.5 percent despite ongoing geopolitical and economic challenges. International visitor spending in Europe is projected to rise by 5.8 percent next year, with leisure travel spending forecasted to increase by 3.1 percent and business travel by 4.2 percent.
Key Contributions and Employment in Europe and Malta
Travel & Tourism supports roughly one in ten jobs across Europe. WTTC reported that the sector contributed US$11.6 trillion to the global economy in the previous year and sustained 366 million jobs worldwide. For Malta, Travel & Tourism is expected to contribute US$4.9 billion
to the national economy in 2026, accounting for 16.9 percent of the country’s GDP and supporting more than 20 percent of local employment. Malta led European economies with a 16.8 percent increase in Travel & Tourism GDP contribution in 2025, significantly outpacing the European average growth of 2.6 percent.
Official Perspectives on Industry Resilience and Vision
WTTC President and CEO emphasized Travel & Tourism’s resilience, noting its US$11.6 trillion global economic contribution and support for 366 million jobs last year. She highlighted Europe’s stronger forecast and underscored the importance of government facilitation to enable seamless travel, strengthen connectivity, develop talent, and promote sustainable growth. WTTC Chairman remarked
that Malta’s government demonstrated strong leadership, making the country an ideal summit host. Malta Tourism Authority’s CEO outlined the island’s vision for tourism focused on creating economic, social, and environmental value, emphasizing innovation balanced with cultural identity. The Authority’s Chairman expressed pride in hosting the summit and reinforced the priority of sustainable tourism benefiting local communities.
Summit Themes and Strategic Goals
The FUTU[RE]SET Global Summit addressed key issues including investment, connectivity, technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, workforce development, destination competitiveness, and sustainable growth strategies. Discussions aim to foster partnerships and initiatives that advance growth, innovation, and opportunity in the global Travel & Tourism sector.
