Industry leaders say geopolitical tensions, climate change and economic uncertainty are reshaping global travel, calling for stronger cooperation and investment to build a more resilient tourism sector
By Bunmi Yekini
Global tourism leaders called for stronger investment, improved security and greater international cooperation as the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2026 opened in Brussels on Monday, amid growing challenges from geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and climate change.
The two-day meeting, themed “Tourism in a New Global Era”, brought together ministers, ambassadors, investors and industry executives to discuss the future of an industry facing mounting pressure to adapt to changing travel patterns and global risks.
Dr István Ujhelyi, president of Capital European Affairs and global vice president of Hiseas International, said the COVID-19 pandemic had demonstrated how essential tourism was to economies and societies, warning that the sector remained vulnerable to disruptions.
Comparing tourism to the air people breathe, Ujhelyi said its importance often became apparent only when it was no longer available.
He identified staff shortages, visa restrictions and the absence of a global support system for small tourism businesses and travellers stranded during crises as persistent challenges.
“We have a voice. It still carries too little weight,” he said, calling for a global tourism pact and describing the industry as “the industry of peace”.
Patrick Bontinck, chief executive of visit.brussels, said tourism could help address some of the challenges facing destinations, including overtourism, housing shortages and the environmental impact of travel.
He urged cities to manage visitor numbers in ways that balanced economic benefits with the interests of residents, arguing that tourism’s value should not be measured solely by the number of people visiting a destination.
Bontinck said international meetings and exchanges were particularly important at a time of growing geopolitical divisions.
“With walls going up amid geopolitical tensions, it has never been more important for people to meet, to know each other, and to understand each other,” he said.
Bulut Bağcı, president of the World Tourism Forum Institute, which organises the meeting, said investment, security and trust were closely linked, with confidence essential to both travel decisions and investment in tourism infrastructure.
“Investment needs confidence, travel needs confidence, and confidence grows when people feel safe and know what to expect,” Bağcı said.
He described tourism as infrastructure rather than simply an economic sector, pointing to the importance of transport connectivity, passenger safety, data protection and artificial intelligence in shaping its future.
He also stressed that technological advances should be matched by continued investment in people.
The meeting’s programme includes discussions on tourism investment, hotel development, transport connectivity and climate resilience, as industry leaders consider how to attract funding and prepare destinations for future disruptions.
Sessions on Tuesday will focus on traveller security and confidence, including border management, data protection and passenger safety across aviation and maritime transport.
Delegates will also examine how destinations can prepare for climate-related disruptions and public health emergencies.
The forum is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Brussels Agenda for Tourism Investment and Security, setting out priorities from the two-day discussions.