The city will next year host the world travel and tourism industry’s summit with themes including sustainable growth, it was announced yesterday. The Global Travel and Tourism Summit, organised by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), will take place on April 20-22. The Chairman of WTTC, Geoffrey Kent, praised Dubai as an “outstanding example” of how the government and private sectors have worked together to create an international destination. “Dubai is the world’s leading example of a city that has successfully embraced travel and tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity,” he said. Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, and Geoffrey Kent signed an accord establishing the industry’s most significant public-private partnership. Kent said the partnership is expected to be the key to providing solutions for the issues that will be discussed at the summit, including its sustainable growth. This partnership, comprising the Government of Dubai, Emirates, Jumeirah, Nakheel and WTTC, will guide the development of the summit, an event that will bring industry and government leaders together in Dubai to discuss the priorities for the world’s largest generator of jobs and prosperity — travel and tourism. Khalid bin Sulayem, Director-General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said the summit would also provide an opportunity to showcase Dubai and its commitment to sustainable tourism and corporate social responsibility.