Biometrics and travel security will be the issues to be addressed at the upcoming WTTC Global Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2018 April.
WTTC recognized the need for public and private sector collaboration to speed up implementation of biometrics security. The resolution of the UN Security Council at the end of 2017 mandates all governments to apply biometric security to counter terrorist activities.
According to Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, “the Travel & Tourism sector needs to work with governments and security agencies to agree a standard approach which can be deployed across the Travel & Tourism system.”
“This will take a huge effort of collaboration with considerable challenges to overcome, particularly around the security and sharing of data and privacy issues, said Guevara.
Guevara, opined that, “implementation of biometric technology to facilitate secure borders is the single biggest opportunity for the Travel & Tourism sector in 2018. “
Ms. Guevara also highlighted the importance of developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning, virtual and augmented reality and changing demographics, particularly the ‘coming of age’ of millennial and growth of Generation Z, for Travel & Tourism.
Speaking at the ninth Exceltur Tourism Leadership Forum in Madrid, Ms. Guevara said, “Biometric technology has been evolving over many years and we have seen gradual implementation across the sector for some time. However, in order for the step change which needs to happen to improve security and create jobs through increased tourism flows, there is an urgent need to speed up implementation.”
