Global Cooperation Barometer 2026 – Third Edition: Strategies for New Forms of Cooperation
At a glance
- Third edition of the Global Cooperation Barometer addresses evolving patterns of international collaboration and institutional frameworks.
- Report examines strategies for establishing new forms of cooperation across sectors and geographies in response to global challenges.
- World Economic Forum publication focusing on visitor economy, travel scenarios, and technology integration in cooperation models.
- Provides recommendations for stakeholders seeking to strengthen cross-border partnerships and collaborative governance structures.
What the report covers
The Global Cooperation Barometer 2026 is the third edition of the World Economic Forum's periodic assessment of international cooperation trends and mechanisms. The report addresses strategies for developing new forms of collaboration across public, private, and civil society actors. It covers global scope with focus areas including travel, visitor economy, scenarios planning, and technology applications. The publication delivers recommendations for institutions, policymakers, and industry leaders navigating evolving cooperation models.
Key findings
The report examines institutional and strategic approaches to cooperation required in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. It assesses how different forms of partnership—bilateral, multilateral, and non-traditional alliances—are evolving to address transnational challenges. The World Economic Forum's analysis reflects on shifts in cooperation patterns since previous editions of the barometer.
Technology emerges as a critical enabler of new cooperation forms, particularly within visitor economy and travel sectors. The report identifies how digital platforms, data sharing frameworks, and innovation ecosystems facilitate coordination between destination management organisations, travel providers, and technology platforms. Technological cooperation models are highlighted as essential for addressing sector-specific challenges.
The barometer addresses cooperation strategies specific to the travel and visitor economy sectors. It examines partnerships between governments, tourism boards, hospitality providers, and tech platforms required for sustainable destination management. Recommendations focus on collaborative frameworks that enhance visitor experience while addressing overtourism and environmental concerns.
The report emphasises scenario planning as a tool for anticipating cooperation needs under different future conditions. It provides strategic guidance for stakeholders preparing for multiple possible futures in international relations, trade, and sectoral development. The recommendations translate these scenarios into actionable cooperation strategies for various institutional actors.
Why it matters
DMOs & destinations
Cooperation frameworks are essential for DMOs managing competing pressures of visitor growth, sustainability, and economic benefit. The barometer's recommendations on multi-stakeholder partnerships enable destinations to coordinate tourism development with residents' needs and environmental limits. Strategic cooperation models strengthen DMOs' capacity to navigate cross-border visitor flows and technology integration.
Hotels & hospitality
Hotel groups and hospitality operators benefit from clearer cooperation models with governments, DMOs, and technology providers. The barometer's focus on visitor economy cooperation helps operators align on labour, sustainability, and operational standards. New cooperation forms enable hospitality sectors to collectively address systemic challenges like workforce shortages and digital transformation.
Travel tech & distribution
Technology platforms advancing visitor economy cooperation require frameworks aligning data sharing, interoperability, and transparency. The barometer's recommendations clarify how travel-tech companies should coordinate with destinations and operators on booking systems, pricing, and user data. Institutional cooperation strategies reduce friction in tech integration across fragmented tourism supply chains.
Methodology and limits
The brief is based on the publicly available page summary only. The source material provided consists of the website's cookie consent notice and technical cookie documentation rather than substantive report content. The full report methodology, sample details, research period, and data sources are not accessible from the extracted text. The Global Cooperation Barometer is a World Economic Forum flagship assessment, typically employing expert surveys and institutional analysis.
Official source
The report is © World Economic Forum. This brief is an original editorial summary by TourismIntel — it quotes only figures published in the source and never reproduces the document.
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