Valletta, Malta, will host the 26th World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit on 7–9 October 2026, bringing together global leaders to shape tourism's future. As mayor of Valletta, I look forward to welcoming this important dialogue to our capital. Sustainable tourism must protect our heritage, support local businesses, and improve residents’ quality of life. This is an opportunity to build partnerships that turn innovation and sustainability into tangible benefits for our communities. ▶️ www.olafmckay.com #Valletta #Malta #WTTC #SustainableTourism World Travel & Tourism Council VisitMalta #tourism
Tourism thrives when innovation meets sustainability. In Nepal, we see how responsible trekking can bring tangible benefits to mountain communities. May this summit in Valletta strengthen global partnerships for a brighter tourism future.
It sounds lofty, doesn't it? Yet, there is one small problem. Do the organizers truly believe that holding a summit on sustainability in a country pushed to its limits is a good idea? Or perhaps it is the perfect location, precisely because the problem is visible to the naked eye? Malta is currently one of the most glaring examples of overtourism in Europe. In 2025, the island welcomed over 4 million tourists a year-on-year increase of 13.2%. With a population of just under 590,000, the islands host around 100,000 tourists simultaneously at the peak of August this represents a 17% increase in the strain on infrastructure relative to the number of permanent residents. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tourism-industry-talks-overtourism-books-its-own-summits-leszek-nowak-wqftc/