Iata reported 4.1 billion passengers were flown in 2017, a new record, with a promising forecast to reach 7.8 billion passengers by 2036 worldwide. At the same time, the UNWTO anticipates a rise in international visitor arrivals from 1.3 billion in 2017 to 1.8 billion by 2030.

Travel and Tourism’s GDP grew 50 per cent more than the world economy in 2017 at 4.6 per cent and the projections indicate that travel and tourism will continue to outpace global economy growth in the future.  The potential to double the number of air passengers and increase the number of travellers around the world offers a unique opportunity to create millions of jobs.

WTTC estimates that between 12 per cent and 31 per cent of all the future new jobs in travel and tourism across the G20 countries could be created by transitioning to a Seamless Passenger Journey and the use of technology and biometrics solutions, in addition to infrastructure investment. This includes making existing terminal facilities and processes more efficient, more secure and seamless which will result in up to 19 million jobs being created.

Travel and tourism is the best partner for governments to create jobs. At present, the industry contributes with 10.4 per cent of global GDP and 313 million jobs are supported by travel and tourism which is 1 in 10 jobs on the planet.