Held at the Euronews Hub at the Hotel Davoserhof on January 20, the invitation-only event looked at the ways in which tourism can contribute to economic growth, job creation and international cooperation at a time of global uncertainty.
Opening the programme, Gombojav Zandanshatar, prime minister of Mongolia, set out Mongolia’s view of tourism as a central element of its development strategy. Speaking about the country’s efforts to diversify its economy, he said, “Tourism is viewed as the second sector of Mongolia. This is the strategic pillar of our economic diplomacy and long-term drive to inclusive economic growth.”
Public–private partnerships and tourism investment
The first panel focused on how public–private partnerships can drive long-term tourism investment, bringing together perspectives from government, industry and investors.
Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Angola’s minister of tourism, said governments must create the right conditions for private investment by focusing on infrastructure and reducing barriers. “The state has to play its role,” he said, adding that Angola has “declared a war on bureaucracy in tourism” to make projects easier to deliver. For him, the clearest sign of success is long-term commitment: “You succeed when investors profit and decide not to repatriate the money, but to reinvest in the country.”
Alessandra Priante, CEO of ENIT, Italy’s tourism board, stressed the importance of stable government and coordination across public institutions to make destinations competitive. She argued that investment should be judged on long-term impact rather than volume alone. “We absolutely have to get out of the number-of-visitors KPI,” she said, pointing instead to economic and social value.
Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association, concluded that PPPs work best when governments focus on enabling frameworks and the private sector delivers growth. He described tourism as a private-sector-led industry, helping to drive innovation and investment across destinations.
Tourism as diplomacy
A later session explored tourism’s role in diplomacy and international cooperation. Dr Harini Amarasuriya prime minister of Sri Lanka, spoke about her country’s experience of using tourism to build connections, particularly after periods of crisis. She recalled how continued tourist arrivals sent a strong signal of confidence and solidarity. “People responded, and we were able to record the highest number of arrivals in our history,” she said.
She argued that tourism plays a broader role in shaping how countries are perceived, adding that “we need stories of hope, stories of recovery, stories of resilience” in a world marked by conflict and division.
Kubanıçek Ömüraliyev, secretary general of the Organization of Turkic States, described tourism as a strategic tool for cooperation across the Turkic world, calling it “a strategic instrument, so soft power and diplomacy capital.” He highlighted shared culture, history and hospitality as the foundations of deeper ties between countries.
Meshari Alnahari, CEO of Aseer Investment Company, talked about how tourism can help reshape global perceptions, particularly in regions undergoing rapid transformation. He said people “no longer travel to try a specific asset or to taste a specific food, they travel for an experience,” arguing that tourism creates opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
Sustainability and responsibility
The event ended with a roundtable discussion about sustainability as a central factor shaping investment decisions and destination strategy.
Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, argued that sustainability expectations are being driven by both finance and demand. “The capital markets want sustainability,” he said. “And I would argue the travellers want it.”
Gregory Rusland, vice president of the Republic of Suriname, described how this thinking shapes his country’s tourism strategy. He noted that his is “one of the few countries in the world that are carbon-negative” and explained that Suriname is deliberately focusing on low-impact, high-value tourism to protect its rainforest and biodiversity over the long term.
From an operator’s perspective, Christoph Kiessling, president of the Loro Parque Foundation in Tenerife, stressed that sustainability must be embedded in how tourism businesses operate, and that responsibility cannot be left to consumers alone.
Nicole Monge, senior director at APCO, highlighted the growing importance of credibility and transparency, as investors and travellers increasingly expect clear evidence of environmental and social responsibility.
Together, the panel concluded that sustainability is no longer an optional add-on, but a core requirement for destinations and tourism businesses seeking long-term resilience and trust.
You can watch the full discussion here.