2017 International Forum on Chinese Outbound Tourism and Release of WTCF Research Result Held in Beijing

On January 9th, 2017, World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) released two new research results, the Annual Report on Development of World Tourism Cities 2016 and Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2017). At the same time, WTCF and Ivy Alliance Tourism Consulting co-hosted the 2017 International Forum on Chinese Outbound Tourism (IFCOT). About 200 guests including 5 ambassadors,70 diplomatic officials of foreign embassies, top executives of tourism organizations, representatives from Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other international organizations, representatives of WTCF members, and China-based leading outbound tour operators attended the forum.

Cheng Hong, Executive Deputy Chairperson of WTCF Council and Vice Mayor of Beijing delivered a speech

Song Yu, Secretary-General of World Tourism Cities Federation delivered a speech

The event began with a speech by Song Yu, Secretary-General of World Tourism Cities Federation. Mr. Song Yu expressed his gratitude for the attendance of the guests. Cheng Hong, Executive Deputy Chairperson of WTCF Council and Vice Mayor of Beijing, attended the symposium and delivered a welcome speech. Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF was the host of the event.

Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF host the forum

Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Academy released the Annual Report on Development of World Tourism Cities 2016 

The Annual Report on Development of World Tourism Cities 2016 is a research result based on the elements and creative measures such as online tourism and sharing economy that promote the development of tourism. The Annual Report on Development of World Tourism Cities 2016 provides an improved version the index of the development of world tourism cities, which provides a criterion for evaluating 104 cities. WTCF hopes that by introducing the method of tourism cities development index, it can provide intellectual support and services for the development of world tourism cities.

Song Rui, Director of Tourism Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Social Science released the Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2017)

2017 China Outbound Tourism--Market Changes and Development Trends

The Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2017) is a special research aimed at the development of world tourism economy. It forecasts the trend of the development of the world tourism economy in 2017 based at the core statistics such as the overall scale of world tourism economy and the role in which tourism play in the world economy. The report indicates that under the background of the weakness of the world economy recovery and slowdown of the international trade in 2016, the world tourism economy kept on growing rapidly to become the main force in promoting the development of the world economy. The world economy contributed 5.49% to world GDP. In 2017, the population of world tourists and world tourism income will be at 7.5% and 4.2%, respectively. Song Yu, Secretary-General of World Tourism Cities Federation, said that after 20 years of high-speed growth of China’s outbound tourism market, it has now approached a new stage of transformation. There are many new changes within the outbound tourism market and demands are ever changing. In order to assist the world tourism organizations and tourism enterprises and provide a better understanding of the new trends and characteristics of the China outbound tourism market, thus promote the cooperation between tourism organizations domestic and abroad, WTCF and Ivy Alliance Tourism Consulting joined hands again to co- host the 2017 International Forum on Chinese Outbound Tourism (IFCOT). The last forum of its kind, the 11th International Forum on Chinese Outbound Tourism (IFCOT) was held in 2015. Mr. Yan Han, Deputy Secretary-General of World Tourism Cities Federation; Mr. Cao Jian, President of Beijing UTour International Travel Service; Mr. Ren Jun, Vice President of CAISSA International Travel Service; Mr. Guo Ming, COO of HHtravel; Mr. Duan Dongdong, Vice President of Alitrip.com; and Mr. Sun Changwei, Vice President of Baicheng.com attended the forum and participated in the discussion. They shared their professional ideas on the characteristics and trends of the 2017 China outbound tourism market, potential of the development of high-end customized tourism, demand and consumption behavior of young tourists, and self-service tourism products.

David Tang, Executive Director of QSC Program introduced the  China Outbound Tourism Quality Service Certification Program 2017 

During the forum, the China Outbound Tourism Quality Service Certification Program 2017  (QSC) was released. The QSC is a program that recognizes overseas tourism suppliers which provide services for Chinese tourists. It aims at promoting the convenience and high quality services of overseas tourism suppliers to provide better services for Chinese tourists. All types of tourism suppliers including overseas travel agencies, retailers, hotels, tourism spots, restaurants, airports, and tax refund agencies can receive a free application and join the program as soon as they meet the criteria of the QSC program. Up until now, thousands of tourism suppliers from 42 countries have applied to join the QSC program. In the future, WTCF will support and guide the QSC program and cooperate with world tourism cities to assist them to attract more Chinese tourists.

Wang Xinjun, CEO of Ivy Alliance Tourism Consulting delivered a speech on China Outbound Tourism Price Index and Analysis of Tourist Source Market

Mr. Wang Xinjun, CEO of Ivy Alliance Tourism Consulting introduced the Report on 2017 China Outbound Tourism Price Index during National Day Holiday and analyzed the tourist’s source market of the China outbound tourism market.

World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) is a non-government, non- profit international tourism organization voluntarily formed by well-known tourism cities and tourism-related institutions around the world under the initiative of Beijing. WTCF currently has 119 city members and 62 institutional members. WTCF consists of 6 branches including the Expert Committee, Committee of Civil Aviation, Committee of Tourism-Related Businesses, Committee of Media Organizations, Committee of Cruise Industry, and Committee of Investment. Established on 15, September, 2012 in Beijing, it is committed to facilitating exchanges and cooperation between members and promoting sustainable growth in the tourism sector. WTCF is considered as one of the fastest growing international organization in the tourism sector.