The Committee of Cruise of WTCF Jointly Hosts the 5th China International Cruise Summit and Holds a Council Meeting

The opening ceremony of the 5th China (Qingdao) International Cruise Summit

Between June 1st and 2nd, 2017, the 5th China International Cruise Summit kicked off in Qingdao. The summit was jointly hosted by Asia Cruise Terminal Association, the Committee of Cruise of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Shanghai International Cruise Economic Research Center, and supported by Qingdao Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, Qingdao International Cruise Port Authority, the People’s Government of Shibei District, Qingdao, WTCF Committee of Cruise Qingdao Sub-council, and China Qingdao Port (Group) Co., Ltd. The summit focused on the theme of “Expanding the whole industrial chain of cruise economy, Boosting innovation & development of cruise industry,” which introduced the all-for-one tourism concept, and extended the whole industrial economic development of the cruise industry. More than 200 honored guests from 26 countries and regions such as Germany, the UK, Sweden, Monaco, Russia, France, Philippines etc. attended the activities of the summit. The summit participants included experts and important figures of different fields of the industry from China’s national authorities, industry associations, international cruise companies, international cruise cities, travel agencies and OTA, cruise design and construction companies, cruise ship supporting supplies, cruise schools, and so on.

WTCF Executive Deputy Secretary-General Li Baochun gives a speech at the summit opening ceremony

Mr. Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF, analyzed the prospect of the international and Chinese cruise markets, and sincerely invited representatives of the participating tourism cities and institutes to join the World Tourism Cities Federation Los Angeles Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2017. According to Mr. Li, the China International Cruise Summit has evolved into an important communication platform for the Asian cruise industry. The platform provides an important opportunity for cruise industrial companies to conduct win-win cooperation from different angels, creates an effective channel for the fuse development of the cruise tourism industry, and also prepares energy and vitality to boost the healthy and sustainable development of the international cruise industry.

Vice Mayor of Qingdao Luan Xin gives a speech at the summit opening ceremony

During the opening ceremony, Luan Xin, Vice Mayor of Qingdao Municipal People’s Government, said, “The China International Cruise Summit has been successfully held for four times. Each summit brings new energy to the Qingdao cruise industry’s development. We can fairly say that it has witnessed the progress of the Qingdao cruise industry.”

The second session of the first Council Meeting of the Committee of Cruise of WTCF

The second council meeting of Committee of Cruise was held before the opening ceremony. The meeting was hosted by Cui Dezhi, Secretary-General of Committee of Cruise of WTCF with members of the committee and special invited guests in attendance. The council members of the Committee of Cruise offered comments and suggestions during the meeting. During the meeting, 12 participants, including Tourism Bureau of Russia’s Primorskiy Kray, Marseille Provence Cruise Club, Fliggy, Blue Economy Financial Center of SPD bank became new member of the Committee of Cruise. The committee now has over 100 members, which makes it one of the most international influential cruise organizations in China.

WTCF Executive Deputy Secretary-General Li Baochun gives a speech at the council meeting

The Committee of Cruise is one of the most important platforms, created jointly by WTCF and Qingdao City, to actively carry out the Belt and Road initiative. During the meeting, Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF said, “WTCF established the Committee of Cruise in May 2016. For the past year, the committee organized many kinds of activities and strengthen the communication and cooperation among members, improve the influence of the committee, thus improving the development of the cruise industry. Qingdao, Chairman Unit of Council and location of the Committee of Cruise Secretariat, has made efforts and important contributions to the development and construction of the committee. Hereon, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for the contributions which Qingdao made on behalf of WTCF.”