Chinese Tourism Cities Overseas Promotion Seminar is Held in Macao

Right after saying goodbye to the Chongqing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit in September, member cities of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) gathered again in Macao to attend Chinese Tourism Cities Overseas Promotion Seminar co-hosted by WTCF, Global Tourism Economy Forum (GETF) and Macao Government Tourist Office.

Following the successful International Tourist Destination (City) Promotion and Marketing Training in Beijing, WTCF holds Chinese Tourism Cities Overseas Promotion Seminar to better serve Chinese member cities. On October 14th, 23 tourism administrative department representatives from Chinese city member including Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Qingdao, Xiamen, Tianjin as well as special guest, Law Heng Kiang, Tourism Minister of Penang, attended the seminar.

Pansy Ho, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of the GTEF delivers a speech

The seminar was hosted by Yan Han, Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF. Pansy Ho, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of the Global Tourism Economy Forum made a speech. She introduced changes and development of Macao's tourism industry in recent year based on her practical experience. Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF, introduced results of 2016 WTCF Chongqing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit, WTCF's development in the past few years as well as member services of WTCF. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of Macao Government Tourism Office shared her experience on Macao tourism marketing promotion with participants.

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of Macao Government Tourism Office shares experience

Other guests who also gave speeches at the seminar includes Roger Carter, member of Expert Committee of WTCF and Managing Director of TEAM Tourism Consulting; Jos van der Sterrn, Director Academy for Tourism NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences, He Shengkang, counselor of WTCF Secretariat. They discussed and exchanged opinions on issues including “International Tourism Cities Management Philosophy and Experience” and “International Tourist Destination Marketing Experience”.

Roger Carter, member of Expert Committee of WTCF and Managing Director of TEAM Tourism Consulting makes a speech

Taking London, Singapore and New York as examples, Roger Carter made a speech themed on “How to Create a City Tourism Brand and How to Tell a Good City Story” to attendances. Accurate data, vivid contents and exact analysis made Mr. Carter’s speech essentially on-target with strong practical operability. After the speech, many representatives asked for his presentation and hoped that WTCF would collect city cases into a document. In the Q&A session, Jos van der Sterrn asked a question first to representatives: "Which country's tourists would you like to attract most?" When they showed their lists of countries, Jos van der Sterrn wittily replied: "Four of you chose Korea and several others voted for America, so who do you think your competitors are or all these present cities today are your competitors?" Based on an example of his two children, he gave advice to attendances that travel market should be divided into small groups based on types of traveler and their habits.

After listening to Pansy Ho and Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes’ introduction about Macao’s tourism marketing promotion, a representative from Kunming Tourism Council was inspired by the means of Macao expanding its flight connection options to attract overseas tourists and hoped to make further contact with Macao Government Tourist Office and build cooperation on more air routes. The representative of Xiamen innovatively proposed an idea of cooperation among three cities. He explained that Xiamen has been working with Kinmen of Taiwan on tourism; it would make full use of these three cities’ advantages if Macao could join the cooperation. He thinks that WTCF's positioning to serve city members cooperation is meaningful in this point.

As the specially invited guest of the seminar, Law Heng Kiang, Tourism Minister of Penang, engaged in discussion with Chinese member cities. He considered the seminar a very practical and effective face-to-face and one-on-one interaction with other cities and he would have a further discussion with other member cities on cruise tourism.

Guests share opinions on the sidelines of seminar

Representatives all agreed that this small-grouped and targeted meeting is practical and instructive and they have a chance to communicate with experts in depth and peer on practical matters in their work. They also praised guests who gave lectures. After the seminar, some of representatives hope that WTCF would hold such events in their own cities and to have further cooperation with WTCF.

Based on the 2016 International Tourist destination (City) Promotion and Marketing Training, the Chinese Tourism Cities Overseas Promotion Seminar is aiming to better serve members. During the seminar, issues on overseas marketing promotion concerned by Chinese tourism administrative departments were thoroughly discussed, which has provided extensive and practical communication and cooperation opportunities to members.