WTCF Executive Deputy Secretary-General Li Baochun Attends 11th China International Cruise Summit (Qingdao) and Addresses Opening Ceremony and Council Meeting of Committee of Cruise Industry of WTCF

The Northeast Asia Cruise Industry International Cooperation Forum 2023 and the 11th China International Cruise Summit (Qingdao) (the latter one is hereinafter referred to as the "Summit") was held in Qingdao from August 28 to 29, 2023 and achieved great success. The Summit is co-hosted by the Committee of Cruise Industry of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Qingdao International Cruise Port Service Administration, Qingdao Shibei District People's Government, and Shandong Port Cruise Culture and Tourism Group Co., Ltd.

Themed "Accelerating the full cruise resumption of China and promoting win-win cooperation in the Asian cruise industry", the Summit is aimed at speeding up the rapid recovery and high-quality development of China's cruise tourism. It invited about 300 representatives of relevant domestic and foreign departments, cruise industry associations, cruise lines, tourism authorities of cruise cities, cruise ports, travel agencies, cruise-manufacturing enterprises, cruise-related institutions, etc.

Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. "The cruise tourism industry holds promising prospects. The flourishment of the cruise industry entails cross-sector integration and development, exchanges and cooperation among tourism cities around the world, participation of the interested parties such as cruise lines, cruise ports, and travel agencies, as well as the attention and support of the media sector and all walks of life. We expect that all cruise-related industries will take cruise tourism as a driver to strengthen cooperation and integrated development, and continuously upgrade the international level and comprehensive competitiveness of cruise port cities, thus boosting a robust recovery of the cruise industry and even the tourism industry," said Li in his speech. 

The Summit also included a series of sub-events such as the signing ceremony, the launch ceremony of the Qingdao Initiative for International Cooperation in the Cruise Industry of Northeast Asia, a cruise industry-relevant conference, a promotional session, a training session for the cruise sales sector of travel agencies, and Qingdao Cruise Tourism B2B Matchmaking Conference, providing opportunities of win-win cooperation in multiple dimensions for relevant market players in the cruise industry. Additionally, it offered an effective channel for the integrated development of the cruise tourism industry, as well as injecting momentum and vitality into the healthy and sustainable development of the international cruise industry.

On the afternoon of August 28, the Committee of Cruise Industry of WTCF held a council meeting. Li spoke highly of the achievements of the Committee in his speech, and expressed his expectation for Qingdao Municipal People's Government to play a good role as the Secretariat of the Committee to actively boost the resumption of cruise ship operations, the restart of the market, and the confidence restoration. During the meeting, the Committee also listened to the constructive opinions proposed by representatives of the governing units and members on the development of the Committee, and discussed and decided on the admission of five new members.

As one of WTCF's six sub-committees, the Committee of Cruise Industry was officially established in Qingdao, China in 2016 with the purpose of strengthening the cooperation and integration of cruise tourism-related industries, and enhancing the internationalization level and comprehensive competitiveness of cruise port cities. Since its establishment seven years ago, the Committee has continuously facilitated exchanges and cooperation among members through various activities, built up its influence, and driven the development of the cruise industry. Up to now, the Committee is home to 130 members from 31 countries and regions including China, the United States, Germany, France, Australia, Greece, Argentina, Chile, Russia, South Korea, and Japan.