Industry Agenda Security in Travel

The report advocates for a transition from reactive to proactive travel security by implementing a "smart travel" approach. It proposes enhancing existing systems through biometrics, e-visas, and big data analytics, while calling for a new global framework that shifts risk assessment from a "country of origin" basis to an individual-based "global trusted traveller programme." Additionally, it recommends the creation of an emergency preparedness guidebook to help nations manage the economic and social shocks of crises such as pandemics and terrorism.

• The travel and tourism industry is a major global economic driver, accounting for 9.8% of global GDP in 2014 and supporting 277 million jobs, with international tourist arrivals projected to reach 1.8 billion annually by 2030.
• Security shocks have significant and varied economic impacts; for example, the 2009 H1N1 outbreak cost the Mexican tourism industry an estimated $5 billion, and the 2003 SARS outbreak caused a 70% drop in tourism to Singapore.
• The report proposes a "smart travel" approach that includes the use of biometric "smart gates" and Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks to reduce wait times and improve security, citing examples from Dubai, London, Abu Dhabi, and Milan.
• Transitioning from paper-based to electronic visas (e-visas) can increase international tourist arrivals by 5% to 25% while allowing governments to better monitor security risks prior to travel.
• The document advocates for a shift in risk assessment from a "country of origin" system to an individual-based "global trusted traveller programme" to facilitate the movement of low-risk passengers regardless of nationality.
• A proposed Global Travel Security Framework consists of five core elements: harmonized global data security standards, e-visas and electronic passports, enhanced law enforcement cooperation, common identity authentication, and the use of a global criminal database.
• To move from reactivity to proactivity during crises, the report recommends an emergency preparedness guidebook based on a three-step methodology: prevention and preparation, reaction and response, and learning, adapting, and recovering.

APA

World Economic Forum (2016). Industry Agenda Security in Travel. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/IP/2016/MO/WEF_AT_SecurityinTravel.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Industry Agenda Security in Travel. 2016. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/IP/2016/MO/WEF_AT_SecurityinTravel.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Industry Agenda Security in Travel |date=March 2016 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/IP/2016/MO/WEF_AT_SecurityinTravel.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2016industry, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Industry Agenda Security in Travel}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2016}, month = mar, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/IP/2016/MO/WEF_AT_SecurityinTravel.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }