WTCF Participates in ITB Asia and Hosts a Special Forum Titled 'Tourism Giant - China: A Key Driver for Global Tourism Growth'

The 2024 ITB Asia, Asia's leading travel trade show, was successfully held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore from October 23 to 25, 2024. As one of the important sub-events of the expo, the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) held a special forum titled "Tourism Giant - China: A Key Driver for Global Tourism Growth" to discuss how the Chinese tourism market can continue to enhance its competitiveness, promote concerted efforts for mutual learning among civilizations, lead cross-border tourism boom, and drive the sustainable development of the global tourism industry.

During the section for keynote speeches, Wang Jin, Deputy Director of the China National Tourist Office in Singapore, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in promoting the recovery of the tourism industry in her speech themed "Strengthen Cooperation and Seek Common Development".

Wu Meiqing, Director of the Administrative & General Affairs Department of WTCF, analyzed the development trends of the Chinese tourism market by using Beijing as an example. She pointed out that the recovery of the inbound tourism sector in Beijing not only benefited from continuously optimized visa and exit-entry policies and rapidly improved payment services supporting overseas bank cards and various digital payment methods, but also inseparable from the city's rich cultural resources and charm. Under this trend, the Chinese inbound and outbound tourism markets have shown strong resilience, abundant vitality, and vast potential, which will inject enduring confidence and momentum into the full recovery of the global tourism industry in the future.

Liz Ortiguera, Managing Director of Asia Pacific of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), revealed the key drivers of global tourism growth and underscored the importance of the Chinese market for global tourism recovery. The driving forces for tourism growth mainly come from economic growth, infrastructure development, transportation convenience, and several other factors, and are closely related to technological empowerment and cultural experiences.

In the subsequent thematic forum, experts from different countries conducted in-depth discussions on how to enhance the international competitiveness of the Chinese tourism market and drive the sustainable development of the global tourism industry. The special forum is hosted by Wang Xiaoyu, a specially appointed expert and researcher of WTCF. Participants in the discussion include Ainura Turezhanova, Head of MICE and Tourism Development of Almaty Tourism Bureau, David Wu, Head of Greater China & Southeast Asia of Visit Finland, Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, Deputy Governor for International Marketing of Asia and the South Pacific of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and William Huang, Director and Marketing Manager of the Super Travels Group in Singapore. The guests shared successful practices in achieving sustainable tourism development and promoting cultural tourism in light of their respective countries' experiences in fostering the growth of their tourism sectors.

This forum not only showcased China's leading role in the global tourism industry, but also provided a platform for industrial cooperation and knowledge sharing, allowing all parties concerned to jointly explore the future development direction of the global tourism industry. With the global tourism industry having entered a medium to long-term growth cycle, China will continue to play an important role in the global tourism industry to contribute to the prosperity and growth of the latter.

WTCF is the world's first city-focused international tourism organization. Founded under the initiative of Beijing in 2012, it now has 246 members spanning 86 countries and regions worldwide. WTCF has been adhering to the concept of "Better City Life through Tourism", and has been dedicated to the sustainable development of the world tourism industry and its members by building various industrial exchange and cooperation platforms.