WTTC Global Summit 2026 in Malta Unveils Full Programme With More than One Hundred Travel Leaders

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced the full schedule of its 26th Global Summit, which will be held in Valletta, Malta with the theme FUTU[RE]SET. Over 100 global speakers are anticipated to be in attendance, gathering senior government officials, industry leaders, policymakers, and tourism representatives from around the globe.

During this two-day summit, the focus will be on the disruptive influences that are affecting the global Travel & Tourism sector, namely artificial intelligence, technology, sustainability, geopolitics, investment, connectivity and changes in travel. The schedule will include participants from airlines, airports, hotels, cruise lines, technology firms, destinations, investors, tourism boards and other international organisations.

Why Is the WTTC Malta Summit Important for Global Tourism?

The WTTC Global Summit is designed to provide a platform where public and private sector leaders can examine major developments affecting Travel & Tourism. Senior representatives from G20 economies and other markets will participate alongside leaders from international institutions and global tourism businesses.

The programme is structured around eight strategic priorities identified by WTTC. These include enabling safe and seamless travel, strengthening destination stewardship, advancing sustainability, using emerging technologies and AI, improving crisis preparedness, expanding connectivity, developing the future workforce and unlocking investment and economic growth. These priorities reflect some of the key issues influencing tourism development as destinations and businesses prepare for changing travel patterns.

What Will FUTU[RE]SET Examine During the Two-Day Summit?

The FUTU[RE]SET programme will examine how the Travel & Tourism industry can respond to technological, economic and geopolitical changes. Sessions will explore subjects including digital identity, artificial intelligence, tourism SMEs, crisis resilience, destination management and future mobility. The programme will also consider how public and private organisations can work together to improve travel experiences while supporting sustainable development.

Other discussions will focus on the future traveller, luxury and wellness tourism, emerging tourism markets such as India, Europe’s competitiveness, investment trends, accessibility and impact-driven travel. This broad programme reflects the interconnected nature of the global tourism industry, where developments in technology, infrastructure, investment and consumer behaviour increasingly influence one another.

Who Will Open the WTTC Global Summit in Valletta?

The summit will begin with senior Maltese leaders presenting the country’s vision for the future of Travel & Tourism. Participants will include Dr Robert Abela, Prime Minister of Malta, H.E. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister of Malta, H.E. Dr Jo Etienne Abela, Minister for Tourism of Malta, and Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority. They will join Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, WTTC Chairman, and Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, for the opening of the summit. Their participation places Malta’s tourism ambitions alongside the wider international discussions taking place throughout the event.

How Will the Global Leaders Dialogue Bring Governments and Business Together?

One of the central features will be the Global Leaders Dialogue, which will bring ministers, policymakers and senior business executives together for discussions about the future competitiveness of Travel & Tourism. The format will include two moderator-led panel discussions. Each discussion will bring together eight ministers and four global CEOs, creating a direct exchange between government and business representatives.

The sessions will focus on practical perspectives rather than a series of formal speeches. This format is intended to encourage discussion around the challenges and opportunities affecting tourism competitiveness, investment and future growth. The dialogue will provide a platform for public and private sector leaders to examine how policy and business decisions can work together more effectively.

WTTC to Launch Youth Movement at Malta Summit

The 2026 summit will also mark the launch of the WTTC Youth Movement, a new initiative focused on increasing young people’s involvement in the Travel & Tourism sector. Around 90 students and 10 professors from 16 partner institutions will participate. The group represents more than 30 nationalities. Participants will have opportunities to engage directly with industry leaders, join summit discussions and build professional connections.

The initiative will also produce a youth-led Malta Declaration. This is intended to create a platform through which younger generations can contribute to discussions about the future of tourism. The programme addresses the industry’s workforce and skills requirements while creating stronger connections between tourism businesses and emerging talent.

How Will WTTC Support Travel and Tourism SMEs?

The summit will also advance WTTC’s Together in Travel initiative, which aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises across the global Travel & Tourism ecosystem. According to WTTC, SMEs represent approximately 85% of the global Travel & Tourism community. The organisation is working towards creating a community of one million Travel & Tourism SMEs.

Through the initiative, participating businesses can access practical tools, industry insights, networking opportunities and a stronger collective voice in international policy discussions. The Malta summit will provide an opportunity to demonstrate how these resources can help smaller businesses navigate changes affecting the tourism industry.

Which Major Tourism Issues Will Leaders Discuss?

The programme includes several sessions addressing key challenges facing destinations and tourism businesses. Topics include Digital Identity: Resetting the Border Experience, AI Unlocked: The New Era of Travel, and Unlocking the Power of Travel & Tourism SMEs. Other sessions will address Building Resilience in an Age of Disruption, Destination Stewardship: The Right Kind of Growth, and Connecting the World: The Future of Mobility.

The programme will also explore Tourism for All and Public and Private Leadership: The Next Trillion Dollar Investment. Together, these discussions will examine how technology, infrastructure, policy and investment can influence the future development of tourism.

Why Are AI, Connectivity and Sustainability Central to the Summit?

Artificial intelligence and emerging technology are becoming increasingly important across Travel & Tourism. They can influence how travellers search, book and experience destinations while also changing how businesses operate. Connectivity remains another major priority. Airlines, airports, destinations and governments must work together to ensure travellers can move efficiently between markets.

At the same time, sustainability and destination stewardship are becoming increasingly important as destinations manage visitor growth and protect local communities, cultural assets and natural resources. The summit will examine how these priorities can be addressed together rather than in isolation.

What Will Happen at the End of the WTTC Malta Summit?

The summit will come to an end with Moving Forward Together, with WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara, WTTC Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio and CEO Malta Tourism Authority Carlo Micallef taking the stage once again. The final session will highlight the major topics and the actions taken in the course of the two-day event. The dialogue will further stress the importance of cooperation between the public and private sector in creating a stronger and more resilient Travel & Tourism industry. The summit will be closed by naming the destination that will host the WTTC Global Summit in 2027.