The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has urged national governments to engage more with local communities and improve the local use of inbound tourism revenues, in a bid to cool the temperature around annual anti-tourist protests in some of Europe’s notable holiday hotspots.
The message from the WTTC comes ahead of another peak summer holiday season where local anti-mass tourist protests are expected; around Mediterranean countries, particularly Spain.
In a statement, the WTTC said: “Travel & Tourism brings significant economic benefits, not just for large travel corporations, but for local businesses and small companies that supply them.
“The sector creates employment and revenue from international and domestic visitors.
“It should not be blamed for wider issues like housing shortages, which often have complex, deep-rooted causes beyond the sector’s influence.
“Travel & Tourism generates substantial tax revenues. Governments must engage with communities to ensure these funds are reinvested to meet local needs like improved infrastructure.
“WTTC supports responsible Travel & Tourism that benefits people and works with governments to help achieve it.”
