Applications are now open for World Bridge Tourism London, the second event of the preparations for the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year. The EU-funded 2-day event will start with a Conference on the 2nd of November.
Like the first World Bridge Tourism event, which was held in May in Shanghai, the second phase will continue to bring Chinese outbound buyers and European tourism suppliers together. The conference on the 2nd of November at The Mermaid theatre, conducted in both English and Chinese, will be chaired by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Arlt FRGS, and have addresses from the European Commission. Providing best practice examples for the European and Chinese audience, it will illustrate the changing needs and expectations of Chinese visitors to Europe. The conference will be followed by a B2B matchmaking event featuring 32 pre-scheduled appointments between 150 European tourism suppliers and 100 Chinese tour operators, wholesalers and intermediaries. This will take place at the InterContinental London - The O2.
World Bridge Tourism, the curtain raiser for the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year, is a EU funded project which aims to increase the flows of visitors from China to Europe. It is delivered by ETC, ETOA, COTRIand Welcome Chinese.
Tom Jenkins, CEO, ETOA said: “This event is for European companies looking to sell their products and services to Chinese tourists, and for Chinese tour operators looking for new experiences in Europe. Everyone has heard about the size and potential of the Chinese market: this is a chance to establish what the real and immediate needs are. With what we anticipate as an extremely engaging programme, participants should have an informative one and a half days.”
All tourism businesses with product in Europe (particularly SMEs) and Chinese operators looking to contract European product are invited and eligible to participate. Applicants will be chosen from a list presented to the European Commission in mid-September.
The London events will be preceded by a webinar on the current status of Chinese outbound tourism and best practice tips on how to conduct successful business interactions with the Chinese market. The webinar will be broadcast live on the 21st September and registrations will open soon.
