【Record】Ms. Pansy Ho, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of Global Tourism Economy Forum delivers a keynote speech

Ms. Pansy Ho, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), delivers a keynote speech

Ms. Pansy Ho:

Ms. Wang Hong, Executive Vice Chairperson of the WTCF and the Vice Mayor of Beijing, Mr. Chen Dong, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Cities Federation, Mr. Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association.

It gives me great pleasure to be here at the very first World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development. I would like to congratulate the World Tourism Cities Federation for organizing this conference.

Around the world, we see green shoots of recovery with the easing of travel restrictions and an increase in domestic travel. This trend toward recovery, though gradual shows our enduring desire to travel. The desire to experience new cultures, connect with people, and see new places is what drove 1.5 billion international tourist arrivals in 2019, employing 1 in 10 people worldwide and accounting for over 10 percent of the global GDP. Only through solidarity and cooperation can the global tourism economy recover and harness its powerful multiplier effect.

When President Xi Jinping spoke at the Virtual Opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly, his vision for collaboration was profound stating that "Mankind is a community with a shared future, solidarity and cooperation is our most powerful weapon for defeating the virus." It is in this spirit of a shared future that the international community can find the inspiration to come together and make tourism central to the restart of the global economy, to promote prosperity, generate employment and foster new growth drivers.

COVID-19 has taken a substantial toll on lives and livelihoods and has impacted nearly every economic sector. It has had an especially negative impact on global travel and tourism. But there are opportunities in all crises and today is an opportunity to rethink the future of tourism and to reinvest in its potential.

How we use technology and innovation will be essential to our shared future, not only because they can help us overcome our current challenges, but because they accelerate the solutions for future challenges and break down barriers. Advances in technology have revolutionized travel and have proven to be critical in mitigating the impact of COVID-19. Tools such as facial recognition, digital wallets, biometric surveillance have made travel more of a seamless experience particularly in transportation and accommodation. At the same time, robotic technology has advanced touchless systems and led to improved hygiene ensuring safety and boosting traveler confidence. Technology has also helped art, culture and creativity to continue to thrive. Cultural sites and museums have opened their virtual doors connecting audiences via livestream to the Palace of Versailles in France, the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang City, among many others. Virtual technology has allowed us to continue life's adventures from our homes as we look forward to traveling again.

We can often see the concepts of cooperation and innovation most clearly in cities which are the epicentres for new ideas. Cities were the first places affected by the crisis, but also the first to respond playing a central role as we adapted to the "new normal". Macao put in place immediate and exhaustive efforts to quell the spread of the virus.

In line with the Central Government's urging to "foster new opportunities amid challenges and make new advances amid changes", Macao has shown its resilience and put in place innovative solutions and cooperative efforts to revitalize travel and tourism. Several initiatives to support residents welcome back visitors and recreate prosperity stand out. First, with an overall unemployment rate of 2.5% during the 2nd quarter of 2020, the government incentivized job retention and offered occupational training to those unemployed. Additionally, a subsidy for employees designed to cover 25% of 2019 median monthly income has been put in place as well as grants for self-employed professionals. Secondly, to boost consumer confidence, the government issued shopping vouchers of 3,000 patacas to support the community's purchasing power. A daily limit of 300 patacas was set specifically designed to support small and medium sized enterprises.

Lastly, to further support SMEs, the government designed 'Macao Ready Go!', an e- platform to gather special offers on retail, leisure, and entertainment. Under the 'Macao Ready Go!' banner, local tours have been designed to support a wide range of tourism businesses and communities encouraging residents to see their city in a new light. As of August 9th, over 116,000 residents have registered to join these tours. Recognizing and making the most of this pivotal moment to revitalize and to re-engineer the future of tourism. Macao continues to merit its position as a World Centre for Tourism and Leisure and to play its part in the integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Through creative initiatives and partnerships such as the ones I have highlighted today, there are opportunities to devise new measures and approaches to reflect new standards in health and safety, leading to a more lasting and sound recovery.

In my role as the Executive Chairman of the China Chamber of Tourism and the Secretary General of the Global Tourism Economy Forum, I hope to harness the renowned platforms that we have put in place and to mobilize international networks with organizations including the UNWTO, WTTC, PATA, WTCF and the ETC to promote tourism. With that in mind, dear friends, please indulge me as I take a final moment to invite you to join us in December for the Global Tourism Economy Forum which will bring together thought leaders from around the world for a virtual conference on innovation and solidarity as the path toward, a more sustainable and resilient global tourism economy. I hope to see you all there!

I'd like to express my gratitude to the World Tourism Cities Federation and wish all of you a most successful conference.

Thank you.