WTCF Promotes the Sustainable Development of the Global Tourism Economy

The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) took place in Macao from 23 - 24 October, 2018. Among more than 1,500 attendees were experts, scholars and industrial representatives from 40 countries and regions.

Release time : 2018-11-13 16:11:31

source : WTCF

ntatives of the WTCF's city members discuss festivals' role in driving tourism with experts

The session was hosted by Li Xiang, a member of the WTCF Expert Committee and a professor at the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Temple University. Among the participants were Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt FRGS FRAS, Professor of International Tourism Management at FH Westküste, and Director and Founder of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute; Signe Jungersted, Director of Development, Wonderful Copenhagen; Martin McDermott, First Secretary of Scottish Affairs at the British Embassy in China; Alexandros M. Modiano, Deputy Mayor of Athens; Lindsay Turner, Research Professor at the College of Business, University of Victoria and Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki. They discussed how traditional cultural festivals drive the economic growth and development of the urban tourism economy. Vapaavuori shared a case of traditional festivals and a case of modern activities, with emphasis on innovative festivals integrating music, holiday, carnival and food. He pointed out that these festivals have boosted the number of young tourists to Helsinki.

2018 coincides with EU-China Tourism Year. The WTCF took an active part in the forum. Through the platform, the WTCF will play its role as a practical exchange platform, further guide and advance China's business and cultural exchanges with the EU and foreign countries, enhance China-EU tourism facilitation, create opportunities for the tourism development of foreign countries, enhance the mutual understanding between Chinese people and European people, increase the number of tourists paying exchange visits and promote the sustainable development of the global tourism economy.

About GTEF

The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture, Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization