Making the most of tourism

The aim is to engage prominent leaders in the public and private sectors in the discussion on regional collaboration and brainstorm on how tourism stakeholders can break down barriers, find common ground and grow stronger together.
    Riding on the opportunity of the inaugural ITB China, the recently held Global Tourism Economy Forum Roadshow luncheon was intended as a networking initiative in advance of the tradeshow to connect representatives of the travel industry from the 16 Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), Chinese outbound tour operators and travel agencies, travel and trade industry, leading MICE operators from Macao, potential sponsors and media, and to facilitate exchange and enhance mutual understanding among these groups. The luncheon was also intended to elevate awareness of GTEF in both China’s and CEECs’ tourism sectors, and to promote the Forum as a one-stop medium for tourism stakeholders to expand their business reach within the region.
    During the luncheon, Jason Wang, chief operating officer of GTEF, introduced GTEF 2017 and all its activities, including the exhibition, business matching sessions, and networking. Other leading operators presented Macao’s MICE facilities and resources, aiming to increase luncheon guests’ knowledge of the city’s world-class MICE capabilities.
    Prominent guests who attended the luncheon included Zsuzsa Vincze, senior foreign affairs advisor of Hungarian Tourism Agency, Eduardo Santander, executive director of the European Travel Commission, and Feng Hongfa, director of liaison of the Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce. Dorina Bianchi, under-secretary of cultural affairs and tourism, Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism of Italy and Professor Li Zhongguang of the China Tourism Academy (CTA), made a joint statement about the collaboration of the two organisations to strengthen Sino-Italian tourism cooperation during 2018 EU-China Tourism Year, an event also supported by GTEF.
    Inspired by the “16+1” economic framework initiated by China to intensify and expand cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe, GTEF 2017 will feature the 16 diverse and culturally rich CEECs. In addition, GTEF 2017 will present the spectacular Guizhou Province as the Featured Chinese Province, bringing a truly promising tourism market mix to the Forum. GTEF will once again offer both rewarding programmes and unrivalled business networking and matching opportunities to delegates from China and around the world, so that they can capitalise on the momentum of tourism development and growth.
    For more information, check out www.Gte-Forum.com and Facebook.com/gteforum.