WTTC leadership cruise drives Middle East recovery talks

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) brought together more than 300 tourism leaders aboard Crystal Serenity in Egypt to discuss recovery across the Middle East as the Iran war disrupted regional aviation and travel flows, with WTTC previously projecting potential tourism losses of up to US$600 million per day.

Held from 6 to 9 May 2026 along the Suez Canal, the first WTTC Leadership Cruise convened public and private sector representatives from the Middle East, Europe and Latin America, including former heads of state, investors and tourism policymakers.

Discussions throughout the programme focused on restoring connectivity, workforce shortages, cross-border travel and long-term destination resilience, alongside broader conversations around tourism investment and regional cooperation.

RELATED:

“Middle East sector can recover quickly,” says WTTC President

UAE leading the way in travel technology, reports WTTC

WTTC names new President and CEO

WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said the event had been created to bring global leaders together at a pivotal moment for the travel sector. “Rebuilding trust and confidence requires strong coordination between governments and the private sector. Over these three days, leaders from across the world came together not only to discuss recovery but to define the actions needed to deliver it,” she added.

The programme also highlighted Egypt’s tourism growth strategy, including infrastructure expansion, aviation development and investment in cultural tourism. WTTC data shows Egypt’s tourism revenues increased from US$4.9 billion in 2020-21 to more than US$18 billion in 2025. Sessions spotlighted the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which recently opened and houses more than 100,000 artefacts, alongside Egypt’s wider cultural and heritage tourism offering.

WTTC Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre said: “Bringing global leaders together in Egypt, aboard Crystal Serenity and through the Suez Canal, sends a strong signal that travel and tourism remains one of the world’s most resilient sectors.”

For more information, visit www.wttc.org