The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) - a high level tourism event hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - is scheduled to take place at The Venetian Macao from 12^th to 14^th October 2015, and will unveil an innovative world class dialogue on cultural tourism themed 'One Belt, One Road - Unleashing New Dynamics of Cultural Tourism'.

The Forum will welcome the members of the Pacific Alliance - Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia - as Featured Partner Countries, in tandem with Zhejiang Province, one of the most important on the Maritime Silk Road, joining as Featured Province. In a press conference held in mid-June to announce details about this year's event, Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government Lai Ieng Kit said: “The MSAR Government attaches great importance to the development strategy of 'One Belt, One Road' initiated by the Central Government. We will fully assist and support, and will make good use of, Macau's focal effects on the Maritime Silk Road, utilising this important development opportunity to boost the synergistic effects of culture and tourism". He expressed the desire that the Forum could bring together forces from different places, promote regional sustainable partnerships, carrying forward regional and international tourism development.

To further promote the global tourism economy and the development of Macau into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, the GTEF will continue to be held in Macao for the next three editions, starting this year. Macao Government Tourist Office Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said in her speech at the pre-event press conference that: “GTEF has important meaning for Macao. By organizing the Forum, Macau can gain more experiences in organizing large-scale meetings and exhibitions. At the same time, it can attract government and business leaders and experts from different regions and countries, thus boosting Macau's reputation internationally."

GTEF unveiled the Chinese entrepreneurs' business mission in 2013, seeking to extend its benefits beyond the Forum period. As a prelude to GTEF 2015, Pansy Ho, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF, led a prominent delegation under the banner of GTEF to visit the Pacific Alliance countries in early June with 30 influential entrepreneurs from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. Ms. Ho said: “We were able to experience firsthand how the tourism sector can elevate co-operation and capitalizse on the opportunity created by the new China-Latin America relationship."

This year, invited tourism ministers include ministers from Cambodia, South Korea and Pacific Alliance countries. Together with the global private sector CEOs, ministers will examine the forerunner role tourism plays in the monumental cross-regional co-operative initiative of 'One Belt, One Road' UNWTO and GTERC will present their second Joint Annual Report on Asia Tourism Trends, which will once again provide an in-depth analysis of the latest developments in Asian tourism trends, enabling decision-makers to keep their fingers on the pulse of the market.

GTEF has successfully established itself as an influential high-level co-operation platform to promote a new round of development in the global tourism industry with a focus on China. To date, GTEF has attracted over 3,000 participants from 45 countries and regions, welcomed 49 provincial and municipal delegations from Mainland China, and presented 130 world renowned speakers including government ministers, business leaders and scholars to its stage.

GTEF is hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, co-organized by the China Chamber of Tourism under the authorization of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, coordinated by the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre and in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization. The Forum also earns great support from its supporting units including Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macau SAR, China National Tourism Administration, World Travel and Tourism Council, Pacific Asia Travel Association and Macao Government Tourist Office.