WTCF Widely Complimented for Hosting the China Tourism Development Forum at the WTM 2017

The World Travel Market (WTM 2017) is currently being held at ExCeL London from November 6-8, 2017. World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) was invited to attend the event and hosted the "China Tourism Development Forum". Representing WTCF, Mr. Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF; Mrs. Nancy Cockerell, Expert of WTCF Expert Committee; and Mr. Roger Carter, Deputy Director of WTCF Expert Committee, were present at the forum held that day. They discussed the characteristics of China’s tourism market under the world tourism development trend in front of 50 visitors and media representatives at the site.

Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF, delivered the keynote speech “Chinese Outbound Tourist Comsumption Behaviour Analysis and Introduction to the Market Research Report on Chinese Outbound Tourist (City) Consumption” during the forum. Outlining the detailed data, investigation and analysis methods, he systematically analyzed the status quo and characteristics of today’s Chinese outbound tourism market. Other issues covered in his analysis also included the Chinese outbound tourism data, the changes and development of Chinese outbound tourist models, the characteristics, habits, hobbies of Chinese outbound tourists, and so on.

Representing WTCF, Mrs. Nancy Cockerell, Expert of WTCF Expert Committee, released the UNWTO-WTCF City Tourism Performance Research, which was jointly developed by WTCF and the UNWTO. This research analyzes the destination management, economics, society and culture, environment and technology of the 12 tourism cities of the world, and the research result provides scientific basis for the world tourism cities to achieve sustainable development.

Next, Mr. Roger Carter, Deputy Director of WTCF Expert Committee, released The Report on World Tourism Economy Trends 2018, which predicts the 2018 world tourism economy development’s 8 major trends by analyzing the core data of the general scale of the global tourism economy, namely: comprehensive and fast growth of the global tourism economy; the global tourism tripod pattern becomes more obvious and the Asian-Pacific part is expanding in the global tourism pattern; tourism grows faster in emerging economies; the tourism development of BRICS stands out; tourism has become the largest component of the international trade in services; global tourism investment grows quickly, and cities play important roles in the global tourism economy. According to the report, 2/3 of the WTCF member cities have received nearly 1/3 of all global tourists.

During the Expo, Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF, met with the Mayor and Executive Deputy Mayor of Seville. They discussed several issues including how to provide better service for WTCF members and how to promote development of world tourism cities.

While accepting interviews by BBC and other media, Executive Deputy Secretary-General Li Baochun introduced the five years of development of WTCF as well as the current membership, services provided for member cities such as exhibition, investment, academic and training during the interview. He also welcomed more European and the world’s tourism cities and tourism companies to join WTCF. 

In 2015, WTCF was invited to participate WTM and won the WTM's annual World Travel Leaders Award. The award is aimed at rewarding organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of world travel industry during the year. At the 2016 WTM, WTCF hosted the Chinese Tourism Market Development Forum and WTCF Members Europe Meeting. During the forum, WTCF released the Market Research Report on Chinese Outbound Tourist (City) Consumption (2015-2016) and the Annual Report on Development of World Tourist Cities (2016).

Around 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit WTM London every November generating more than £2 billion worth of travel industry contracts. This year’s newcomers include those that represent every continent and every sector of the travel trade, such as destinations, technology, hospitality, cruising, insurance, car hire and so on. More than 130 new exhibitors from across the globe have signed up for WTM London. The fast-growing Asian markets are particularly well represented, with 33 of the new exhibitors coming from Asia.