Ministers gathered at WTM London 2025 shared their views on how smarter, more inclusive investment models can help destinations to share more widely the benefits of travel and tourism. The 19th edition of WTM London’s Ministers’ Summit, in association with UN Tourism and WTTC, offered examples of how the public and private sectors are working together to fund the opportunities and mediate the challenges of growing travel and tourism markets. Many destinations are using tax breaks and other incentives to drive tourism development. Christina Frasco from the Philippines talked about how it was offering fiscal incentives and opening new economic zones for tourism that champion sustainability, green innovation and job creation. She also talked about accelerating the role of the private sector, which includes the government’s plans to privatise many of its airports. Similarly, Kenya is using tax incentives and economic zones to encourage private investors to build up tourism along its 500km of coastline. Rebecca Miano added that the government was working on air connectivity and finding ways to encourage airlines to add Kenya to their network. Increasing air capacity is also a priority for Costa Rica as it looks to address a drop in visitor from the United States. It is marketing strongly in Europe and looking to add more direct flights from the continent. Tax breaks are also being used by Ecuador as part of its strategy to promote the mainland to visitors to the Galapagos Islands. It has recently allowed the private sector to help manage conservation zones and offers incentives to tourism investors which show a commitment to rural tourism and to working with indigenous people. Elsewhere, airports emerged as an immediate way to engage …
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