Chengdu - The Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC) and the Global Tourism Economy Forum (“GTEF” or “the Forum”), the leading international tourism platform designed to promote sustainable development of the global tourism industry with a focus on China, offered a show of support to their most prominent supporter and collaborator, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on the occasion of the 22nd session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China.
The 22nd session of the UNWTO General Assembly was held in Chengdu, the second city in China to host the world’s most influential bi-annual tourism event. From September 11 to 16, the General Assembly gathers high-level public and private tourism stakeholders from around the world in Chengdu to unveil a new blueprint for global tourism development. The General Assembly also celebrates the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (IY 2017). Ms. Pansy Ho, Founder and Chairman of GTERC (the official sponsor of IY 2017) and Secretary-General and Vice Chairman of GTEF, joined the General Assembly in full support of the two organizations’ most authoritative collaborator.
Capitalizing on the tremendous opportunity to elevate awareness of GTEF 2017 among global tourism elites, GTERC co-hosted the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 Luncheon with the UNWTO and InterContinental Hotels Group at the InterContinental Century City Chengdu on September 14. The luncheon was attended by 350 prominent tourism leaders and dignitaries including Mr. Du Jiang, Vice Chairman, China National Tourism Administration (CNTA); H.M. King Simeon II, IY2017 Special Ambassador; H.E. Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, IY2017 Special Ambassador, HE Dr.Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, IY2017 Special Ambassador; Dr. Michael Frenzel, IY2017 Special Ambassador, among all. Ms. Pansy Ho delivered a Welcome Remark, thanking UNWTO for their continued support of GTERC and GTEF, including the 6th edition of the Forum to be held in Macao from 16 to 17 of October under the theme of “Regional Collaboration towards a Better Future.” She said, “In this special year, when all focus converges upon tourism's role in sustainable development, the Global Tourism Economy Forum has chosen the theme “Regional Collaboration towards a Better Future” to honor IY2017. We will be bringing together top policy-makers and private sector leaders, to find the keys to common grounds and actionable goals.”
The Forum supports China’s Belt and Road Initiative and embraces the “16+1” economic framework under which China partners with the 16 diverse and culturally rich Central and Eastern European Countries. GTEF 2017’s Featured Partner Countries include Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia. These countries along with Guizhou Province will offer GTEF delegates a fresh perspective on potential in the global tourism economy.
In support of IY 2017, GTEF 2017 will engage prominent leaders in the public and private sectors in a forward-thinking dialogue on regional collaboration and sustainable tourism development. 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 capitalize on the momentum of tourism development and growth.
