Cultural Tourism Empowered by Technology - World Tourism Cities Federation Will Feature in China International Fair for Trade in Services

The China International Fair for Trade in Services 2020 (hereinafter referred to as CIFTIS) is underway in Beijing. More than 700 domestic and international exhibitors will participate in the event on and offline. As the world’s first international tourism organization focusing on cities, the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) will also participate in the fair to create a platform for global cities to showcase themselves and exchange in diverse forms.

Hosting the World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development to Promote the Revitalization of World Tourism

Initiated by Beijing, WTCF is the world’s first international tourism organization focusing on cities. Since its foundation in 2012, WTCF has now grown into an international tourism organization with a total of 223 members, including 148 cities, 75 institutions and 6 branches across 75 countries and regions. As such, WTCF has been hailed as the fastest growing international tourism organization in the world.

During CIFTIS, WTCF will host the World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development, which is one of the four core summits among 153 sessions covering 12 areas of trade in service for CIFTIS. As the only conference of its kind held by an international organization during CIFTIS, the World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development is a significant guide in rebuilding world tourism for prosperity amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Highlights of WTCF Booth at CIFTIS 2020

During CIFTIS, the WTCF will set up an informational booth (No. E3801) in the comprehensive exhibition area on the ground floor of the China National Convention Center to highlight its history, important activities and research achievements. One of the notable objectives for the exhibition will be to promote the substantial assets of its member cities, in order for them to share resources and complement each other’s strengths and advantages. Since its establishment, the WTCF has made remarkable achievements in promoting exchanges, cooperation among its member cities, as well as investment and financing for the development of international tourism. These achievements will also be fully presented at the conference. Through this exhibition, WTCF will create more opportunities for win-win cooperation, help build communities throughout the world with a shared future for mankind through tourism, while building an important platform for Beijing’s international exchanges.

The WTCF booth is shaped like a sailboat, while colored bluish green like its logo. The booth adopts augmented reality (AR), holographic images and other technical means to display the previous editions of Fragrant Hills Tourism Summits, its academic research achievements and the charm of member cities, in addition to providing a cultural and interactive experience for visitors. Click on the mobile app “WTCF AR” and scan the Chinese traditional masks, then a relevant cultural introduction will pop up. In addition, visitors can experience “face-changing” on site and print out photos as a souvenir. Nadi, the third largest city of Fiji, is a city member of WTCF. By scanning the image “Happy Fiji”, its rich tourism resources will appear vividly. Not only can you get a view of the scenery of Fiji, but also experience its indigenous culture in an interactive manner. Beijing’s WTown, a water town with Chinese characteristics in Beijing, has also been “relocated” to the booth of WTCF with the help of AR technology. Visitors can walk into the three-dimensional image of Beijing’s WTown, just like they’re there, experience a time-space transition and take group photos with AR. Interactive projection is also used to display the “Eight Wonders of the SCO”. Holographic and electronic sand table technology is used to present London, a member city of WTCF, as the fashion capital and financial center of the world.

From providing digital travel solutions to supporting the big data of urban development, WTCF follows the trend of this sector’s development, promotes the construction of digitally linked cities among its members, accelerates the effective integration and symbiotic development of “culture, tourism, and technology” for global cities around the world, while taking action to practice the core vision of “Better City Life through Tourism”.