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2019-10-06
Global Tourism Economy Forum Facilitates Europe-China Tourism Cooperation

GTEF 2018 is an official partner of ECTY 2018. This edition was also acknowledged as one of the “15 high level events where EU authorities held bilateral discussions on ways to develop EU-China tourism cooperation in a sustainable and balanced way”.

Global Tourism Economy Forum Facilitates Europe-China Tourism Cooperation
Global Tourism Economy Forum (“GTEF” or “the Forum”) has long been the bridge facilitating Europe-China tourism cooperation. Under the initiative of 2018 EU-China Tourism Year (ECTY 2018), the Forum extends its impact in generating reciprocity for collaboration between two of the world’ s major tourism economies. According to data from the European Union (EU), tourist arrivals from EU countries to China recorded a 7.9% year-to-year increase from September to December 2018; from January to April 2019, bookings from China to the EU outperformed other destinations with a 16.9% year-to-year rise. Signs are suggesting that the ECTY 2018 collaboration has created ripple effect in inbound and outbound tourism markets of both regions.

GTEF 2018 is an official partner of ECTY 2018 and part of its 270 official events. This edition was also acknowledged as one of the “15 high level events where EU authorities held bilateral discussions on ways to develop EU-China tourism cooperation in a sustainable and balanced way”.

 

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GTEF 2018 was held in Macao in last October. Under the theme of “Strategic Partnership in a New Era, Rising Momentum for a Shared Future”, this edition brought in the EU and Guangdong as Partner Region and Featured Chinese Province, respectively. The opening ceremony was officiated by 71 ministers, government dignitaries and tourism leaders worldwide. Attended by over 2,000 participants from 42 countries and regions, as well as 1,461 organizations and enterprises, Mainland China and the EU countries represented the top two largest sources of delegates. This edition not only achieved a 72% year-to-year growth in terms of delegates, but also set the new delegation attendance record for Partner Region and Featured Chinese Province. GTEF 2018 was also attended and covered by over 120 journalists from international and local media, generating a media value of nearly US$11 million. Among the highlights of this 2-day event is business matching session. It was participated by 144 enterprises from 23 countries and regions, including 19 EU countries and a half-and-half EU and Chinese enterprise combination. With 1,275 matching sessions were successfully lined up, the setting has vastly deepened the connection between Chinese tourism stakeholders and their European counterparts. GTEF 2018 also hosted an exhibition featuring 16 European enterprises and 4 Chinese enterprises, offering a product and service promotion channel reaching delegates across the globe.

 

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Incepted in 2012, GTEF has successfully established a top-notch international exchange and cooperation platform designed to promote sustainable development of the global tourism industry with a focus on China. It utilizes Macao as a bridge between China and the world to connect people and forge partnerships, as well as a strategic tourism hub of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Forum’s achievements have been fully acknowledged and supported by the Central Government. Prior to the collaboration with the EU in 2018, GTEF established cooperative ties with Europe in 2013, initially presenting Portugal and Spain as GTEF 2013 Partner Countries. In 2016, France accepted the invitation as GTEF 2016 Partner Country, followed by the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) as GTEF 2017 Partner Region.

 

Facilitating tourism cooperation

In March 2019, Italy officially endorsed on China’s Belt and Road Initiative during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Italy, France and Monaco, while 2020 was set as Italy-China Culture and Tourism Year. This April, Premier Li Keqiang attended the 8th Summit Between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) in Croatia for promoting “16+1 cooperation”. It is natural for China and Europe to join hands and push for greater development in the new era. Riding on its distinctive advantages in Europe-China cooperation, Macao is looking forward to making relevant contributions in future – and GTEF is willing to cooperate actively.

 

Stay tuned for more information about GTEF via www.gte-forum.com and its social media channels: 
https://www.facebook.com/gteforum 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-tourism-economy-forum 
https://twitter.com/gteforum 
http://weibo.com/gteforum 
wechat ID: GTEForum

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About Global Tourism Economy Forum
The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, in collaboration with World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), co-organized by the China Chamber of Tourism under the authorization of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), co-organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and coordinated by Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC). GTEF’s supporting units include the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) and European Travel Commission (ETC). 

Since its inception in 2012, GTEF has successfully established itself as an influential high-level cooperation platform to promote sustainable development in the global tourism industry with a focus on China. To date, GTEF had received more than 10,783 participants from 89 countries and regions, including delegations from 147 provinces and cities of Mainland China; and 570 internationally renowned speakers.