World Tourism Cities Federation workshop opens in Beijing

A workshop to discuss the prospects of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) and prepare for the upcoming 2014 Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit in September this year kicked off at the Hotel of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, May 21.

Li Baochun, deputy secretary-general of the WTCF, delivered an opening address. According to Li, the federation has attracted 124 members, including 83 cities and 44 agencies. The federation’s membership grew at a steady and rapid pace last year, showing the recognition of the WTCF from all walks of life.

Li Baochun, deputy secretary-general of the WTCF, delivers an opening address for a workshop held on May 51, 2014. (Photos by Wu Chuanjing / chinadaily.com.cn)

The workshop is expected to improve the development model of the WTCF and further strengthen long-term cooperation among members, including city-to-city, city-to-institution, and institution-to-institution cooperation.

Yan Han, deputy secretary-general of the WTCF, participates and presides over the activity. (Photos by Wu Chuanjing / chinadaily.com.cn)
 

The WTCF makes member services a priority this year. It is taking measures to upgrade its tourism publicity services for members, including constructing a new official website, creating official pages on new media platforms (such as WeChat and microblogs), as well as a new WTCF experience center in Beijing’s Shijingshan district.

Wu Bo, representative from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) contributes his idea on the workshop. (Photos by Wu Chuanjing / chinadaily.com.cn)

According to Li, by September, the number of members will reach 140-150, and is expected to increase to approximately 300 in five years.

A workshop to discuss the prospects of the WTCF kicks off at the Hotel of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, May 21. (Photos by Wu Chuanjing / chinadaily.com.cn)

At the discussion session, representatives, including delegates from the Egyptian embassy in Beijing, the Beijing office of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and TUI AG, exchanged their ideas for the WTCF’s further development.