The Global Tourism Forum will host one of the most prestigious global gatherings, the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2025, on October 19–21, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. Under the theme “Redefining Tourism in a Changing World”, the forum will unite heads of state, ministers, representatives of international organizations, industry leaders, and investors to shape the future of tourism.

Program

DAY 1: Monday, October 20, 2025

Venue: Royal Museum of Fine Arts – Belgium

  08:30 – 09:30

Registration

09:30 – 09:45

Opening of Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2025

The Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2025 will commence with a prestigious opening session that sets the tone for two days of high-level dialogue, innovation, and collaboration. Featuring welcome remarks from distinguished global leaders and forum executives, the session will highlight the Forum’s vision for reshaping global tourism through investment, sustainability, and strategic cooperation.

  Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting will mark the official launch of the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2025. This symbolic moment, led by heads of state, ministers, and industry pioneers, will signify the beginning of a landmark gathering that brings together global stakeholders to shape the future of tourism.

H.E. Shaikha Al Nowais – Secretary General Elect – United Nations Tourism

09:45-09:50

Welcoming Speech by Host

Bulut Bağcı – President, World Tourism Forum Institute

09:50-10:50

Opening Speech

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan, Former President and Special Envoy of the President Maldives

H.E. Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev​​ – Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States

Apostolos Tzitzikostas – Commissioner for Tourism and Transport, European Commission

H.E. Didier MAZENGA MUKANZU, Minister of Tourism of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Jean-Jacques Morin – Group Deputy CEO and Premium, Midscale & Economy Division CEO, Accor

Umid Shadiev- Chairman of the Tourism Committee,Uzbekistan

10:50-11:05

Women in Tourism: Empowering Leadership for a More Inclusive Future

 Keynote Speaker: Shaikha Al Nowais – Secretary-General Elect of UN Tourism

 11:05-11:25

A dialogue between two global tourism leaders on the sector’s future, its economic impact, and the empowerment of women and youth

Hotseat with Shaikha Al Nowais – Secretary-General Elect of UN Tourism and Hala Matar Choufany, President – HVS Middle East, Africa and South Asia

 11:25-11:40

Coffee Break

11:40-11:55

Europe’s Aviation Vision 2050-A Competitive, Connected and Sustainable Future

Tania Cardoso Simoes – Director Aviation Transformation, Eurocontrol

11:55-12:25

Fireside Chat:Airports 2030: Hubs of the Future

 Moderator: Laura Buckwell- TV News Anchor

Paul Griffiths- CEO Dubai Airports

 12:25 – 12:40

Shifting Priorities, The Evolving Economics of Global Travel

 Dr. Senthil Gopinath – CEO, International Congress and Convention Association

12:40-13:10

Leading the Future of Tourism: Insights from the Top

 Moderator: Ambassador Michael B. Christides – Secretary General, Black Sea Economic Corporation (2015-2021)

Prof. Alessandra Priante, President of  Italian National Tourist Board(5 min video)

Arnar Már Ólafsson – Director General, Icelandic Tourist Board

Anouk van Eekelen – Director of Destination Development, Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions

 13:10-13:40

TechFront:AI & Tourism – The $500 Billion Transformation

 Moderator: Laura Buckwell- TV News Anchor

Luca Zambello – CEO, Jurny

Weynand Kuijpers – Co-Founder and CTO, Skipr Technologies

Max Rangeley – Founder and CEO, ReboundTAG

Musa Toktas – CTO, HOI Holding

13:40-14:20

Airport Infrastructure Revolution- Building for 2035 and Beyond

Moderator –

Giovanni Russo,COO, Geneve Airport

Fernando Parretta, Madrid Airport Manager, ITA Airways

Piervittorio Farabbi,COO,Tirana International Airport

Curtis Grad-Partner,Modalis Infrastructure

 14:20-14:40

Keynote Speech: The Role of Boutique Hotels in Shaping Authentic Travel Experiences

Levent Doğru Deputy Chairman, Tiffany Hotels Cuba

14:40-15:00

Coffee Break

15:00 – 15:30

Global Leadership for a New Tourism Economy

 Moderator : Ozgul Ozkan Yavuz – Board Member, Turkish Airlines, Former Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkiye (2019-2023)

H.E Dr Abdulla Niyaz, Minister of State for Tourism and Environment Maldives

Jan Fluxa – Deputy Minister of Regional Development Ministry of the Czech Republic

István Ujhelyi – UN Tourism Ambassador to the EU, Former Member of the European

Parliament, Founder of Capital European Affairs

Dr. Eduardo Santander – CEO/Executive Director, European Travel Commission (ETC)

 15:30 – 16:10

CEO Boardroom

The $10 Trillion Tourism Question – Where Will the Smart Money Go Next?

Moderator: Moderator: Laura Buckwell- TV News Anchor

Salman Gasim – CEO, Swiss Hospitality Company and Vice President, Saudi European

Central Western Business Council

Abid Butt – Board Member and Former Group Chief Executive Officer, Assets Group

Martin Boyle – CEO, International Association of Proffessional Congress Organizers – IAPCO

Shamsah Fatima Dhala – Global Manager, Tourism, Retail and Property, International

Finance Corporation (IFC)

Grigory Avetov,Founder of Megacampus, organizer of the biggest lecture events. PhD in Economics.

 16:10 – 16:50

Digital Aviation-AI, Automation and the Future of Flight

Moderator :Olga Fleming- Founder Oruga Group

Belmin Pascal-Head of EU Aviation and Regulatory Affairs ,AIRBUS

Andreas Boschen, Executive Director, SESAR JU

Frederico Fernandes,CEO,WIZE

16:50-16:55

Keynote Speech

Edanur Hardal: Senior Sustainabilty Analyst, Ecovadis(5 min video)

19:00 – 23:00

World Tourism Awards

 The World Tourism Awards is the pinnacle celebration of excellence across the global tourism industry. Honoring trailblazing destinations, companies, innovations, and individuals, the ceremony recognizes those who are redefining travel through sustainability, creativity, and impact. Held during the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2025, this red-carpet event will spotlight the top 100 performers shaping the future of tourism on a global scale.

Location: Royal Museum of Fine Arts Brussels

DAY 2: Tuesday, October 21, 2025

 10:00 – 10:30

NextGen Policy Lab: Innovations in Public-Private Partnerships

Mariana Oleskiv, Member of the Advisory Board Capital European Affairs(Former Chairperson at State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine)

Eduardo Pedrosa – Executive Director, APEC Secretariat(5 min video)

Nicole Monge – Senior Director- APCO

Nata Kvachantiradze – Chairperson at Georgian Tourism Association

 10:30 – 11:20

Destination 2050: Smart Cities & the Future of Place-Making

Moderator: Lee Anne Singer-Partner – Southern Africa Consulting HVS

Sabine Wendt -CEO, Visitberlin

José Ramón BAUZÁ DÍAZ – Former President of Balearic Island and Member of European Parliament

Patrick Bontinck – CEO, visit.brussels

Eleonora Orso – Policy and Forum Officer,  Eurocities

Natalya Tabaka -Chairperson, State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine

11:20- 11:40

Coffee Break

  11:40 – 12:30

Africa Ascending: Tourism for Infrastructure, Youth Employment & Investment

Moderator: H.E. Abulfas Garayev, Minister – Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan (2006-2018)

 H.E. Sherif Fathy – Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt

H.E. Fredson Bacar – Secretary of State of Tourism – Ministry of Economy, Mozambique

H.E. Marcio de Jesus Lopez – Minister of Tourism, Angola

H.E. Minister Abdoulie Jobe – Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Gambia

 12:30 – 13:00

Capital Connect: Private Equity & Sovereign Wealth Funds in Hospitality

 Moderator: Abid Butt – Board Member and Former Group Chief Executive Officer, Assets Group

Olivier Granet – Managing Partner | Co-Chief Executive Officer , Kasada Capital

Management

Hala Matar Choufany, President – HVS Middle East, Africa and South Asia

Türk Ergün, MENA Regional Wealth Manager – Devere Group

 13:00 – 13:15

Tourism Titans

Justin Reid, Senior Director of Media, Destinations, Hotels and Growth at Tripadvisor

 13:15 – 14:00

New Media & Destination Dynamics: Shaping Travel Through Influence

Moderator and Speaker: Juergen Steinmetz, CEO TravelNewsGroup

Luckson Zambuko-Founder – African Youth in Tourism and Hospitality Association (AYTHA)

Mahmood Abdulla-Global Emirati Voice-Linkedin Top Influencer

14:00-14:15

Coffee Break

14:15 – 14:45

Sustainable Aviation-From Mandate to Market Reality

Moderator: Frederico Fernandes,CEO,WIZE

Alper Kaşıkçı,GM of Luxembourg, TURKISH AIRLINES

Serguei Poppeleer – CEO Bleriot Group

 14:45 – 15:15

Immersive Economy: The Convergence of AI & Hospitality

Moderator:Laura Buckwell- TV News Anchor

Sekip Hardal – Vice President  of WTFI-USA

Ylka Reiss – Vice President of Strategic Alliance,  iD Tech

 15:15 – 15:30

Blue Economy Futures: Shipbuilding at the Crossroads of Trade, Tourism, Sustainable Growth, and Ocean Stewardship

Kristijan Curavic – President, OACM Group

 15:30-16:00

Medical Tourism: Shaping the Future of Global Wellness and Health Travel

Moderator: Muthri South Hataali, SVP, MENA Region

Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, CEO of Aspetar

Dr. Siyka Katsarova,European Spas Association (ESPA)

Raja Sharif, Founder of Farmatrust, UK