Under the theme of “Tourism and Leisure: Roadmap to a Beautiful Life”, the 8th edition of the Global Tourism Economy Forum (“GTEF” or “the Forum”), held from 13 to 15 October, presented a series of spectacular highlights including opening and closing ceremonies, discussion panels, special interviews, exhibition, business matching, networking sessions and more. On the opening day of the Forum, the “Face to Face - Ministers and Private Sector CEOs” session lined up heavyweights for an in-depth dialogue on the topic of “How Tourism, Leisure and Sports Lead to a Beautiful Life”.
Ministers and Private Sector CEOs share insightful perspectives
In collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the “Face to Face - Ministers and Private Sector CEOs” session lined up ministerial officials and global private-sector CEOs from around the world. The session was unveiled by an introduction delivered by Executive Director of UNWTO, Zhu Shanzhong. Ministerial officials of tourism and related fields from Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Cambodia, Myanmar and other countries were invited to join the high-level dialogue. Under the topic of “How Tourism, Leisure and Sports Lead to a Beautiful Life”, leaders from the private and public sectors explored how innovation and cooperation in tourism, leisure and sports can enhance travelers’ experiences and lives of people in local host communities, and contribute to a beautiful life; as well as how the development and growth of diverse tourism markets, such as adventure, eco-tourism, sports and wellness, affects the industry both regionally and globally, among other topics.
Finals of “UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventure: SportsTech” come into spotlight
According to UNWTO, a rising number of tourists are travelling for sports or wellbeing, propelling UNWTO to organize the first edition of “UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventure: SportsTech”, thus enabling top-tier start-ups to demonstrate how the sports and tourism industries can be a stimulus to creativity, innovation and sustainable growth, and that their disruptive visions can have a positive and transversal impact on the entire tourism value chain. Over 100 start-ups from around the world joined the contest. Among them, five enterprises (from Lebanon, Japan, the United States, Spain and Belgium) entered the finals and were invited to come to Macao and present to the judging panel at the Forum how their business plans may attract investors.
Launch of GTEF ∙ World Tourism Investment and Financing Conference
Another new highlight in the Forum was the “GTEF ∙ World Tourism Investment and Financing Conference”. Secretary-General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF, Pansy Ho, Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism and Vice Chairman of GTEF, Wang Ping, and Executive Deputy Secretary-General of World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Li Baochun, attended the Conference and delivered remarks. Three round-table panel sessions were held to explore the topics of “Tourism Investment and Cooperation in the Global Multilateral System”, “Potential of Chinese Tourism Investment & Cooperation Opportunities in ‘Belt and Road’ Projects” and “Valuation of Tourism Project: Investment & Financing Strategy”. Some of the world's top investment experts and tourism leaders shared their experiences in international tourism investment and financing, inspiring delegates to identify hotspots and trends of global tourism investment, and to facilitate exchange and cooperation between investment institutions and related project owners.
Presentation of the sixth Joint Research Report on Asia Tourism Trends
The sixth Joint Research Report on Asia Tourism Trends was jointly released by UNWTO and the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC). In addition to illustrating tourism trends and outlook for the Asia-Pacific region, the Report placed a special focus on the potential of Chinese outbound tourism to Latin America, in particular to Argentina and Brazil, and examined the dynamic of health and sports tourism markets in Asia.
Business matching delivers GTEF’s impact as a platform
142 tourism enterprises from across the globe, including tourism suppliers from GTEF 2019 Partner Countries Argentina and Brazil, Chinese travel trade operators, as well as European tourism peers referred by the Forum’s partner European Tourism Association (ETOA), participated in the business matching session. All participants utilized the GTEF platform to broaden their business network in China and the rest of the world, seek new partnerships and co-create new opportunities. Besides, the Forum’s exhibition allowed over 10 entities comprising official tourism organizations of Argentina and Brazil, and tourism enterprises from China and Macao to showcase their tourism products to delegates from worldwide.
The Forum is dedicated to becoming an advanced platform for international tourism exchange and cooperation. Capitalizing on Macao’s role as a bridge that connects different peoples and cultures and enhances cooperation between China and the world, as well as a strategic tourism hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Forum strives to enhance the sustainable development of the global tourism industry with a special focus on China. Since its inception in 2012, GTEF had engaged more than 10,000 participants from nearly 100 countries and regions, including over 100 delegations from various provinces and regions of Mainland China. Hundreds of internationally-renowned speakers had been invited to share their insightful perspectives, including ministerial officials, industry leaders, experts and scholars.
Please visit www.gte-forum.com and its social media channels for more information about GTEF.
