The World Travel & Tourism Council has invited transport ministers attending the annual International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Germany, to partner with the tourism sector to implement biometrics to make travel more efficient and secure.
Speaking to the Open Ministerial Meeting, Gloria Guevara, WTTC president, said: “Travel and tourism generates 10.4 per cent of the world’s GDP and creates 313 million jobs.
“Transport – aviation, maritime, road and rail – is fundamental to our sector’s success.
“IATA is forecasting a rise from four billion annual passengers now to 7.8 billion over the next ten years, UNWTO estimates global international arrivals to rise from 1.3 to 1.8 billion by 2030.
“This growth poses a challenge not only to infrastructure capacity but also how to ensure these travellers can be processed efficiently and securely.”
She added: “In order for us to achieve this growth and create jobs, we need to work together to find solutions which increase capacity, enhance customer experience and ensure security.
“Technology is the key and biometrics is a solution which is already being used around the world.
“I invite ministers of transport to partner with us to speed up the adoption of biometrics, and together we can ensure that more jobs are created.”