WTCF Visits Copenhagen, Helsinki and Dublin

On June 1st-10th, 2016, the delegation of WTCF visited Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Dublin. WTCF visited these cities to discuss promotions, consulting and training, cooperation on investing and financing, and accepting members and so on. This delegation consisted of Yan Han, Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF; Chen Bo, head of Liaison Department of WTCF; and Wu Meiqing, Admin Specialist.

On the afternoon of June 2nd, the delegation met with six members from Tourism Department of Copenhagen including Jonas Wilstrup, Chief Inspector of Conference and Prize, and Sina, Chief Inspector of Marketing. The delegation introduced the development of WTCF, development of MICE industry, and the cruise industry of China. Afterwards, they then listened to the Tourism Department of Copenhagen about tourism in Copenhagen. Both sided discussed the promotion of We-media, attending conferences, academic research, training investigation, market, and cooperation on investing and financing. They agreed on the following items:

First, Tourism Department of Copenhagen hopes WTCF will help it open its official WeChat account and conduct operation during the initial stage.

Second, Tourism Department of Copenhagen will investigate the Chinese market and cooperate with Secretariat of WTCF, Ctrip, ipsos and so on, to acquire more comprehensive data.

Third, Tourism Department of Copenhagen pays special attention to training and hopes that themed training can be held in the city in the first half of 2017.

Fourth, Tourism Department of Copenhagen will be more active regarding cooperative communication.

On the morning of June 6th, the delegation visited the Tourism Department of Finland and Tourism Department of Helsinki. Paavo Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of Tourism Department of Finland, and Kaari Artermjeff, Marketing Manager of Tourism Department of Helsinki attended the meeting. They introduced the tourism of Finland and Helsinki in detail, especially on the growth of Asian tourists. They also hoped to get consultation from WTCF. After their introduction, the delegation advised them to cooperate on promotion, investigation and research, project investment, personnel training and so on. They agreed on the following items:

First, with the support of WTCF, Helsinki will strengthen cooperation with Chinese tourism cities and conduct promotions.

Second, Helsinki will provide tourism event information to the We-media platform of WTCF actively.

Third, the two parties will cooperate in holding a special training program on how to target and promote in the Chinese tourism market in late 2016 or early 2017.

Fourth, Tourism Department of Finland and Tourism Department of Helsinki will plan tourism investment projects and connect with the Investment Commission, which is to be founded at the 2016 at Chongqing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit.

On the morning of June 7th, Criona Ni Dhalaigh, Mayor of Dublin, received the delegation of WTCF warmly at the Office of Mayor. Peter J Finnegan, head of Liaison Department of Dublin; Donal Durkan, head of Development Department of Belfast; and Brian Johnston, manager of Tourism, Culture and Art Department attended the meeting. Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh welcomed the WTCF delegation and already had prior knowledge of the development of WTCF from the mayors’past appearance at the Fragrant Hills Summit. She said Dublin would continue to support WTCF and send an advanced delegation to attend the 2016 Chongqing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit. Peter J Finnegan said Dublin cared about the development of WTCF and they were willing to promote global tourism with WTCF. He said WTCF should continue to promote cooperation among global tourism cities and build more communication platforms. He hoped to advance commercial tourism, study tourism, conference and prize tourism, and other new types of tourism via the platform of WTCF. He also showed a high degree of interest in cooperating on training and investment projects. He also hoped to hold themed training with WTCF in late 2016 and prepare investment projects to acquire something with the Investment Commission at the 2016 Chongqing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit.

Dublin recommended Belfast to join WTCF and Representative of Belfast showed the intentions to join WTCF and attend the Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit this year. The two cities expressed their wish to hold the Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit together.

Through this visit, WTCF strengthened communication and cooperation with Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Dublin. The two sides also got to learn about resources and needs of each other better. The working mechanism of information exchange, personnel exchange, cooperation and interaction was set up. The following achievements were acquired:

First, further service. Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Dublin will conduct tourism promotion and tourism investment cooperation and hold high-end training via the We-media platform.

Second, implement cooperation. The cities will sign a MOU with WTCF and implement cooperation intentions and form an interests-coordination mechanism with other members of WTCF.

Third, invitation to the summit. The three cities will all send an advanced delegation to attend 2016 Chongqing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit.