Annual Report on Development of World Tourism Cities (2015) Released in Beijing

On January 5, 2016, the press conference of Annual Report on Development of World Tourism Cities (2015) was held in Beijing. Representatives from world tourism cities and tourism industry institutions, experts from World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), representatives from Beijing Tourism Society and tourism journalists attended the conference.

(Li Baochun, WTCF Deputy Secretary-General expounded the background and significance of launching the research of world tourism cities’ development indexes)

Annual Report on Development of World Tourism Cities (2015) is launched by WTCF after an in-depth research on the development of world tourism cities. The World Tourism City Development Index put forward in the report is a comprehensive index evaluating cities’ tourism development level. The development index consists of three evaluation systems: integrated indexes, individual sub-indexes and characteristic indexes from the aspects of tourists, tourism industry and urban management. The finally formed individual sub-indexes are tourism prosperity index, tourism development potential index, tourism appeal index, support for tourism index, tourism’s economy contribution index and tourist satisfaction index. The report highlights three aspects: the first is tourists’ experience evaluation on tourism service quality, which is a comprehensive evaluation on tourists’ experience of tourism cities’ accommodation, dining, shopping, transportation and so on, reflecting the concept of “user experience first”; the second is the evaluation on tourism industry’s contribution to urban economy, showing the important role of tourism industry in expanding domestic demand, boosting consumption and investment etc. and the concept of interactive development between the tourism industry and cities; the third is the function of tourism big data in the research and evaluation of world tourism cities, reflecting the concept of combining top-down and bottom-up data.

(Professor Zhang Hui, chief expert of the topic study group introduced in detail the report’s research process, methods and achievement)

The report focuses on the comprehensive analysis of world tourism industry’s development features and trends, aiming to establish globally adaptive evaluation indexes and statistical standards and build a multi-channel data collection cooperative mechanism. It has an exemplary function in guiding member cities to improve service facilities, professionalize and refine services. In addition, WTCF will further enhance its online media informatization to realize the interconnection and sharing of information, at the same time launch mutually supportive tourism product innovation and cultural promotion in order to reduce travel costs and eliminate geographical and cultural barriers.

(Wei Xiaoan, Director of the WTCF Expert Committee interpreted the report from the angle of academic research)

Li Baochun, WTCF Deputy Secretary-General expounded the background and significance of launching the research of world tourism cities’ development indexes. Professor Zhang Hui, chief expert of the topic study group introduced in detail the report’s research process, methods and achievement, and explained the meaning and ranking of each development index. Wei Xiaoan, Director of the WTCF Expert Committee, Wang Dingguo, Deputy Director-General of Chongqing Tourism Administration and Qiu Weijun, Ctrip Overseas Director interpreted the report from the angles of academic research, tourism cities’ development and destination marketing respectively. A panel discussion themed “elevating the quality of tourism cities” was held during the press conference.

(A panel discussion themed “elevating the quality of tourism cities” was held)

In November, 2015, WTCF won World Tourism Market'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, and has an extremely strong influence on world travel industry. The release of the Annual Report on Development of World Tourism Cities (2015) put forward guidance and suggestions about the future world tourism development trends, government management, urban planning and so on, which will deeply influence and promote the future world tourism cities’ development. WTCF will be devoted to promoting the development of world tourism and join hands with its members to create a brighter future of city tourism.