WTCF Moderates GTEF Sub-forum 'Redefining City Tourism for the Next Decade'

The 10th Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) was grandly held in Macao from September 21 to 23. Themed "Destination 2030: Unlocking the Power of Tourism for Business and Development", GTEF brought together over 1,500 delegates of tourism and relevant sectors from all over the world to explore the opportunities to facilitate the recovery of the global tourism economy and strengthen innovation and international cooperation. Entrusted by the Secretariat of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Yan Han, Deputy Secretary-general of WTCF, attended the opening and closing ceremonies of GTEF as a guest of honor.

Yan Han, WTCF's Deputy Secretary General, attended the opening ceremony as a guest of honor.

After the opening ceremony, Yan and Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), exchanged views on further deepening cooperation, advancing academic exchanges, and supporting each other's activities and discussing the concerned issues of the international tourism industry. Pololikashvili highly recognized the efforts made by WTCF in recent years, which include the public services constantly provided to the international community and based on world tourism cities, and the endeavor to accelerate the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations. Pololikashvili expressed ongoing support for WTCF's activities.

On the afternoon of September 21, Yan was invited to a talk with Peter Semone, President of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Both sides reached a consensus on strengthening resource sharing, information exchange and working together for the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific tourism market. In particular, the two sides planned to sign a strategic cooperation agreement during the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held this October, and agreed on releasing relevant major outcomes.

On the morning of September 22, the WTCF-organized sub-forum "Redefining Urban Tourism for the Next Decade" was held as scheduled, which was moderated by Yan himself. Daisy Ho, one of the forum's guests, noted that driven by Macao's socioeconomic development, it will be an inevitable trend to realize the in-depth combination of culture and entertainment and explore new tourism content to promote cultural exchanges and a moderately diversified economy. According to Wilfred Wong, Macao should both lead in fashion and inherit the tradition with a focus on services in the next decade to build itself into a world tourism and leisure center as well as a world culture and art exchange center. Professor Karl Wöber shared insights into the highly changeable tourism industries in Europe, and suggested that the world tourism cities should actively share experiences of development, timely integrate the latest science and technology achievements into tourism, and continuously innovate tourism models. Feng Yuliang introduced the tourism development situation in Chongqing in 2023 and shared the plan of the Lancang-Mekong Tourist Cities Cooperation Alliance. Feng suggested that the governors of tourism cities should develop diversified business patterns of cultural tourism and ensure the in-depth combination of culture and tourism.

A group photo of participants of the discussion

The GTEF sub-forum organized by WTCF further deepens the cooperation between WTCF and GTEF, which is based on the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides. Since signing the cooperation agreement in 2015, both sides have collaborated well and conducted mutual support in academic research, business exchange and many other aspects. While promoting the mutual growth, they have jointly propelled the growth of world tourism.