The Global Tourism Economy Forum • Macao 2018 (GTEF), hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, will proceed in accordance with the adoption of 2018 as 'EU-China Tourism Year', inviting the European Union (EU) to participate as the Partner Region to explore the vast world of opportunities generated by in-depth tourism co-operation between China and Europe.

Continuing the productive results of the past six editions, the host of the Forum is committed to adding innovative chapters to the programme and format of the next edition, with the objective of enabling delegates to forge far-reaching tourism links across industries, sectors and regions through the Forum as an international exchange platform.

Sharing insights

Under the theme of 'Regional Collaboration towards a Better Future', the sixth edition of GTEF was held on 16^th and 17^th October, bringing together some 1,500 ministerial officials from tourism and related sectors, industry leaders, experts, scholars and participants from across the globe in a series of profound discussions on how regional tourism collaboration can lend impetus to the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and sustainable global tourism development.

The Forum also rolled out an array of business matching and presentation sessions to foster interchanges among tourism corporations at home and abroad in order to facilitate the practice of the 'bring in and go global' strategy. This edition of the Forum featured 16 Central and Eastern European Countries as the Partner Region and Guizhou Province as Partner Province. The two-day event was covered by over 150 international and domestic members of the press.

The Forum's two-day programme presented thought-provoking keynotes and discussion panels, starting with its signature 'Face to Face, Ministers and Private Sector CEOs Session' with the largest speaker line-up ever. Meanwhile, the fourth report of the UNWTO/GTERC Asia Tourism Trends - a joint research report by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC) - was presented at the Forum. The joint report presented tourism trends and outlook for the region, highlighting the importance of regional collaboration regarding the adoption of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations.

The second day of GTEF 2017 featured six inspiring panel sessions. Besides panels titled 'Promoting a Shared Vision through Regional Collaboration', 'Driving Tourism Economic Growth through Innovation and Technology' and 'The Greater Bay Area - Visionary Collaboration in the Making', there were three concurrent sessions and workshops themed as 'Consumption Upgrade & Market Strategies', 'World Heritage & Regional Co-operation' and 'Building a Brighter Future for Cities through Collaboration', outlining directions and a comprehensive picture of future tourism development for delegates. Through different sessions and networking activities, the Forum will once again offer unrivalled opportunities for business matching and networking for delegates from China and across the world.

Preparing for GTEF 2018

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, Alexis Tam, remarked in his closing speech that against the backdrop of the promising '16+1' economic framework involving China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), this year's Forum invited the 16 CEEC to jointly participate as Partner Region. In these two days, delegates have been inspired by the CEEC perspectives on regional collaboration, which are as profound and diverse as their cultures and history.

The '16+1' framework planted the seed of China's Belt and Road Initiative in Europe where it is growing and flourishing. CEEC's participation in this edition of GTEF opens another window of opportunity for further regional co-operation in the field of tourism. Riding on the momentum of China-Europe ties, the Forum will broaden the scope of collaboration and invite the European Union to be Partner Region in the next edition.

Secretary Tam also emphasised the commitment to pursuing the vision of building an advanced international tourism platform that brings together decision makers and leaders of the global tourism industry, bridging the gap between different countries and regions, and forging partnerships among industry operators in both the public and private sectors.

As the host of the Forum, the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the MSAR Government leverages the unique system, culture and geographic advantages of Macao to extend collaboration across different cultures, sectors and territories, energising the momentum, scale and impact of the Forum with the valuable experiences culminated over the past few years.

He stated that the Forum underscored the remarkable role of Macao in the region. Not only is Macao eagerly seizing the opportunity of the Belt and Road Initiative, but is also a core member in China's strategic planning of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. The task of the MSAR Government is to enhance the synergies of these national projects with Macao's positioning as world centre of tourism and leisure, as well as serving as the platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. In this context, the MSAR Government is actively consolidating Macao as a hub where traditional Chinese culture prevails and other cultures flourish in harmony.

Secretary Tam concluded that given the fresh inspirations gained and international network built during the Forum, all participants should strengthen and synchronise their efforts in strategic partnerships. Together, the MSAR Government and all participants can build a strategic foundation on which a healthy and sustainable tourism industry can develop.

For more information about the Forum, please visit gte-forum.com.