The 6th edition of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne has opened with Disruption in the tourism sector-taking centre on the first day.
The gathering of over 500 delegates comprising of business leaders, ministers, tech giants academia among others began with series of side events to usher the official opening. The next generation leaders had earlier been exposed and taken through digitalization and media session at the media world Red Bull event where they produced a video which later was played during the main session.
The President of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne Prof Martin Bath will welcome the guests to tourism’s Davos with rally call to take advantage of disruption to make tourism the right change maker.
Moderated by Kenya’s Caroline Mutoko and seasoned Swiss broadcast journalist Urs Gredig the opening panel session will begin with Disruption: a constant driver for change being the topic to be discussed.
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism Rania Al-Mashat got the ball rolling when in her introductory remark said Governments cannot lead innovation but are best placed to provide the enabling environment to spur the sector on. Tech giants and business leaders on the panel could not agree more with the Minister.
The first panel will get the gathering talking. With this year’s event themed “ Human capital in the am age of disruption: talent, innovation and diversity” the parallel sessions will then discuss thoroughly around the subject.
The parallel sessions discussed the topics below
‘’Virtual Reality: A transformative potential
Self-experience of VR and discussion of opportunities and risks’’ , Overtourism: Experiences and solutions Measurement and management of Overtourism
‘’Community Based Tourism: Opportunities and risks -How to reach out to the customer?
Digital Transformation: Disrupting the industry-How to prepare your company for the digitized company?
Innovation: A challenge for existing companies
How to stay innovative?
The successful chairman of LVMH, Hublot and Zenith Jean-Claude Biver shared his rich experience with the gathering and implored them never to lose instinctive acts of human even in the new tech world.
A wonderful night of gala dinner will cap off a fabulous day of session and networking and the session enters day 2 today.
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