WTCF and PATA Sign MOU to Promote Win-Win Cooperation in BRI Cultural Tourism Industry

On October 18, 2023, during the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as the "Forum"), Yang Shuo, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), and Peter Semone, President of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the Forum's Thematic Forum on Sub-national Cooperation. This MOU was included in the List of Practical Cooperation Deliverables of the Forum, a list incorporating a series of practical cooperation projects and bilateral cooperation agreements agreed upon by national governments, financial institutions, local governments, and enterprises.

The MOU emphasizes the important roles of the international tourism organizations in promoting the development of the tourism industry. WTCF and PATA are willing to engage in comprehensive constructive cooperation in areas of mutual interest based on the principles of organizational development and mutual benefit, aiming to establish a strategic partnership of mutual benefit between international organizations.

Yang stated that this MOU fully leverages the role of WTCF as a platform. As the initiating and headquarters city, Beijing actively promotes the construction of a win-win tourism and cultural industry under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It demonstrates its exemplary and leading role as a BRI hub city, narrates the story of Beijing's high-level openness to the world, and has ushered into a new stage of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road. Yang also pointed out that in the future, WTCF will work closely with PATA, fully leverage their respective advantages, implement the practical content of the MOU, and jointly promote the prosperous development of the tourism and cultural industries of the Belt and Road, to ensure that the practical results will benefit more global tourism cities.

As the world's first global international tourism organization with tourism cities as its main focus, WTCF adheres to the core concept of "Better City Life through Tourism". It is dedicated to promoting exchanges and cooperation between cities and organizations and plays a significant role in driving the innovative development of the global tourism industry.

PATA is the largest non-profit organization of travel industry members in the Asia-Pacific region, headquartered in Bangkok. Based on the partnerships with official and non-governmental travel organizations, PATA continually promotes sustainable growth, as well as value and quality enhancement, in the tourism sectors within the Asia-Pacific region and the broader area.