Forum opens in Macao to discuss tourism recovery, innovations

The 10th Global Tourism Economy Forum opened on Thursday in the Macao Special Administrative Region, drawing over 1,500 delegates from around the world to discuss tourism recovery and innovations.

Themed "Destination 2030: Unlocking the Power of Tourism for Business and Development," the three-day forum aims to unleash the potential of mutual cooperation between Chinese and international tourism markets and provide new thinking and impetus for the development of the global tourism economy.

Officials, industry leaders, decision-makers, and scholars worldwide are scheduled to discuss new ways of constructing a resilient, high-quality, and people-oriented environment for the tourism industry in the new normal through innovative and sustainable international cooperation.

Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, said at the opening ceremony that the forum is set to be a premier platform for cooperation between governments and the private sector in the area of tourism for development.

"We can shape the course of the sector's future around the pillars of jobs, education, innovation, and investments," Pololikashvili said.

Hu Heping, Chinese minister of culture and tourism, said the ministry hopes to capitalize on the forum to join hands with other countries to create a more open and inclusive environment for tourism development, continuously promote further opening up of China's tourism sector, make steady progress in facilitating people-to-people exchange, and keep improving inbound travel services.

Lei Wai Nong, secretary for economy and finance of the Macao SAR government, voiced hopes that the forum serves as an occasion to share Macao's steady progress towards the resumption of tourism and economic activities, as well as the city's comprehensive capabilities to organize conventions and exhibitions.

The forum underscored Italy as its partner country and Shanghai as the featured city. In addition to discussions and keynote speeches, the program included special interviews, case studies, and casual fireside dialogues as a new highlight.