WEF has no plans to downsize Davos permanently

The World Economic Forum’s claim to fame is its ability to bring world leaders together once a year to debate global issues in an intimate – and lavish –setting. With the pandemic making that tougher this year, the WEF is organizing more virtual access to Davos in January. Managing Director Olivier Schwab says social distancing measures will mean smaller crowds in 2021 but the impact on the local economy will be temporary. The onsite event will return to scale in subsequent years as the demand for a physical get-together remains high, he said.