December 15–17, 2025 | Harbin, China

The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is proud to announce its arrival in Harbin, Heilongjiang, marking the first time the event will be held outside Macao after ten successful editions since its inception in 2012.

Building on its role as a high-level international platform for cooperation and dialogue, GTEF 2025 is jointly organized by the People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province and the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre, with the support of UN Tourism, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and some of the world’s leading travel and tourism organizations. Together, these partners are dedicated to strengthening global connections between culture and tourism economies.

Discover Harbin — China’s Model for All-Season Tourism

Known as the “Oriental Little Paris” for its unique blend of Eastern and Western influences, Harbin showcases the powerful synergy of culture, technology, and tourism. The city, famous for its iconic Ice-Snow World, exemplifies year-round tourism development and innovation. As host, Heilongjiang Province stands at the forefront of China’s new quality productive forces, welcoming over 280 million visitors and generating more than RMB 370 billion in tourism revenue in 2024—a testament to its vibrant economic and industrial transformation.

Forum Highlights

Coinciding with the launch of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period, GTEF 2025 will center on the theme:

“New Quality Productive Forces : Powering the Global Tourism Economy”

Focusing on five key pillars—Cultural and Tourism Integration, Ice & Snow Economy, All-for-One Tourism, Industry Empowerment, and Technology-Driven Development—the Forum will feature a dynamic program of high-level dialogues, thematic sessions, site visits, and investment promotion activities.

GTEF 2025 will bring together global policymakers, industry leaders, and corporate innovators to explore new directions and opportunities for the sustainable growth of the tourism economy.

Heilongjiang Province, located in northeastern China, is the country’s northernmost and highest-latitude province, and has Harbin as its provincial capital. It borders Russia to the north and east across the river, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the west, and Jilin Province to the south. Situated in the heart of the Northeast Asia, Heilongjiang serves as a vital land gateway between Asia-Pacific, Russia and the European continent. It serves as a pivotal gateway for China’s northward opening up.

The province currently has 14 civil transport airports, ranking 5th in China and 1st among the three northeastern provinces. It also has 90 general aviation airports, the highest number in the country, serving as a powerful foundation for the development of Heilongjiang's lowaltitude economy. As a multi-ethnic region, Heilongjiang is home to 55 ethnic minority groups, with unique and diverse forms of local folk customs and intangible cultural heritage.

Located in the northeast of China and the southwest of Heilongjiang province, Harbin is the provincial capital as well as a sub-provincial city, serving as the political, economic, and cultural center of Northeast China. Its unique history and geographical location have shaped Harbin into a beautiful city with an exotic charm, embodying the heritage of northern ethnic minorities, as well as a mix of Chinese and foreign cultural influences. Renowned as a famous tourist destination, and as a city of great historical and cultural value, Harbin is also known as the "Ice City", "Oriental Moscow," and "Oriental Paris".