World Travel & Tourism Council reinforces cruise sector resilience during Suez voyage

More than 300 tourism leaders gathered aboard Crystal Serenity in Egypt to discuss recovery across the Middle East amid ongoing geopolitical disruption.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) hosted its first Leadership Cruise from May 6th to 9th, 2026, during a transit through the Suez Canal, bringing together ministers, former heads of state, tourism executives, and investors from across the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America.

The event took place against a backdrop of regional disruption due to the US-Iran conflict that has disrupted aviation and travel flows, with WTTC previously warning of potential tourism losses of up to US$600 million per day across the wider regional tourism industry.

Discussions during the three-day programme focused on restoring connectivity, addressing workforce shortages, rebuilding traveller confidence, and strengthening cross-border cooperation, alongside broader themes of long-term resilience and tourism investment.

“This event was created to bring global leaders together at a pivotal moment for Travel & Tourism,” said Gloria Guevara, President and CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council. “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 said.

The programme was hosted by the Egyptian government and included participation from senior political figures and industry leaders, including Egypt’s Minister for Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, former Mexican President Felipe Calderón, former Argentine President Mauricio Macri, and former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Private sector representation included senior executives from American Express Travel, Chase Travel, Railbookers, and City Sightseeing Worldwide, alongside regional stakeholders involved in tourism development and investment.

Egypt’s tourism strategy featured prominently in the discussions, with sessions highlighting infrastructure expansion, aviation development, and cultural tourism investment. The country has seen tourism revenues increase from US$4.9 billion in 2020/21 to more than US$18 billion in 2025, reflecting a broader recovery trajectory.

Speakers also highlighted major cultural assets, including the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which recently opened and houses more than 100,000 artefacts, as part of efforts to position Egypt as a leading global tourism destination.

Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman, World Travel & Tourism Council, said: “This first-ever WTTC Leadership Cruise represents far more than a historic gathering, it reflects our industry’s determination to move forward with confidence and clarity.”

“Bringing global leaders together in Egypt, aboard Crystal Serenity and through the Suez Canal, sends a strong signal that Travel & Tourism remains one of the world’s most resilient sectors,” he added.

The transit through the Suez Canal was positioned as a symbolic element of the programme, reflecting the importance of global connectivity to the travel sector’s recovery.

Ahmed Youssef, CEO, Egyptian Tourism Authority, said: “It was an honour to participate in the WTTC Leadership Cruise and share Egypt’s vision for the future of tourism.”

“Egypt is combining its extraordinary heritage with innovation, investment, and sustainable development to create diverse, world-class travel experiences,” he said.

WTTC indicated that the Leadership Cruise is intended to become a recurring platform for dialogue between governments and the private sector, with a focus on strengthening coordination during periods of disruption and supporting long-term growth in global tourism.