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Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair is to address the World Travel & Tourism Council's Asia Summit, to be held in Seoul, Korea from on 10th and 11th September 2013.

The former Prime Minister will give his observations on leadership and the current geopolitical climate, as it relates to the health of the tourism industry. He will reflect on the social and economic contribution of industry as a driver of jobs and economic prosperity.

Looking forward to the presentation, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President and Chief Executive David Scowsill explained "it will be our honour to welcome Tony Blair to address the WTTC Asia Summit.

"He is one of the world's leading international statesmen with an unrivalled knowledge of geo-political affairs. It will be fascinating to hear his first-hand experience on the economic and social contribution of our industry, and how we can better make our case for investment with governments around the world."

With Asia set to dominate world economic growth for the next decade, tourism in the region is expected to grow by over 5%.

The region will be in the vanguard of tourism development and its growth will impact around the world as increasing numbers of Asian travellers make their mark in the global marketplace.

By 2023, Asia's middle class will have tripled to 1.7 billion and China will have overtaken the United States as the world's largest tourism economy, measured by total GDP contribution and the forecast size of the outbound market. The issues to be faced here will command the attention of all the global players in the industry, as well as the political leaders of tourist economies worldwide.

The WTTC Asia Summit will address what needs to be done to harness this enormous growth potential, showcasing countries which are driving the industry with an enlightened approach, and drawing comparisons with positive and negative experiences in other parts of the world.

The theme 'Staying Ahead of Tomorrow' will provide a stimulating exchange between private and public sector, tackling some of the most pressing issues facing tourism now and over the next decade.

Tony Blair was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007.

WTTC is the global authority on the economic and social contribution of tourism. It promotes sustainable growth for the industry, working with governments and international institutions to create jobs, to drive exports and to generate prosperity.

In 2012, tourism accounted for 260 million jobs globally and, at US$6.6 trillion (9.3% of GDP), the sector is a key driver for investment and economic growth.

For more information on the Summit, go to www.wttc.org

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