Key aspects of this new approach include the digitalisation of visas and travel authorisations, the adoption of digital identities and biometric technologies, more agile pre-check processes to reduce congestion, and greater secure data sharing between tourism, security and financial agencies. All of this is tied to a joint public–private commitment to ensure that security does not conflict with the smooth flow of international travel.
According to the report, the travel and tourism sector could contribute US$16.5 trillion to global GDP by 2035 and account for more than 12% of global employment, which underscores the crucial role that agile, modern borders can play in the international economy.
But the benefits are not only macroeconomic: modernising borders has a direct impact on the traveller experience and on the competitiveness of destinations and tourism businesses. By simplifying procedures, reducing waiting times and guaranteeing secure processes, it becomes possible to foster more fluid, reliable and attractive tourism for those travelling for leisure, business or any other form of international mobility. In this context, borders are revalued as key infrastructure, no longer as a bottleneck.
The report calls on governments to rethink their migration and customs policies, placing institutional cooperation, technological interoperability and regulatory simplification at the centre. The adoption of digital and biometric solutions, as well as coordinated traveller management, would help drive the recovery and expansion of global tourism, generating not only revenue, but also quality jobs and economic dynamism in multiple regions.
For countries that depend on tourism—including many in Latin America, Europe and Asia—this paradigm shift represents a historic opportunity. The possibility of turning borders into engines of growth invites a rethinking of strategies for promotion, destination development, connectivity and national and international tourism policies. Frictionless tourism, supported by technology and collaboration, is not only more competitive, but also more inclusive, accessible and sustainable.
Ultimately, WTTC argues that the future of global tourism depends on unlocking the potential that exists at borders: not as walls that restrict, but as bridges capable of connecting people, destinations and economies. If governments choose to modernise their controls with intelligence, adaptability and strategic vision, borders will cease to be synonymous with obstacles and become levers for development—a vital transformation for tourism to continue growing and evolving for the benefit of societies and the global economy.
