• This year, the European Union features as GTEF’s Official Partner Region (Photo courtesy of Global Tourism Economy Forum)

Macao to Host Global Tourism Economy Forum 2018 in October

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The 7th Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) will be held on 23rd and 24th October at MGM Cotai with the European Union (EU) featuring as this edition's Official Partner Region and Guangdong as GTEF's Featured Partner Chinese Province. Under the theme of 'Strategic Partnership in a New Era, Rising Momentum for a Shared Future', GTEF will continue to play its strategic role as a pragmatic exchange platform to create multilateral and bilateral meetings, business matching, exhibitions, cultural activities and so forth, in order to drive high-level dialogues on increasing tourism flows between China and Europe. On the occasion of '2018 EU-China Tourism Year', GTEF will contribute to enhancing EU countries' understanding of Chinese visitors when travelling in Europe, and strengthening co-operation between Chinese and EU authorities in the field of tourism and its related economy.

The Opening Ceremony will also be held on 23rd October, with the programme of the event unfolding with keynote speeches and an interview format session themed Strategic 'China-EU Economic Partnerships in the New Era' plus a presentation of the annual of World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Global Tourism Economy Research Centre Joint Research Project. A face to face discussion between ministers and private sector leaders in collaboration with UNWTO will be also held, together with several other themed panel sessions, namely 'Festivals - Bridging Traditions and Tourism', presented in collaboration with World Tourism Cities Federation; and the panel session 'Gastronomy, Creativity, Tourism', presented in co-operation with UNESCO.

In response to the Plan for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development proposed by the central government GTEF 2018 has scheduled Guangdong Province as the Featured Partner Chinese Province, while on 22nd October, one day before the GTEF Opening Ceremony, GTEF Guangdong Night will be held.

On the second day of the Forum (24th October) a Greater Bay Area Session will be held, in which experts in various fields will present their penetrating insights on the topic of the Bay Area and regional economic development. For both days, exhibition and business matching sessions are also scheduled, among other activities.

GTEF 2019 Partner Countries will be Argentina and Brazil, continuing the Forum's mission of building partnerships in tourism and connecting China to the world.

Since its inauguration in 2012, GTEF has been the premier forum to discuss the global tourism economy in the context of China's far-reaching Belt and Road Initiative, with GTEF pioneering topics at the top of the public-private agenda, focusing on creating opportunities for tourism promotion, investment and co-operation. Consequently, GTEF has become a much anticipated annual gathering for world leaders, tourism ministers, international CEOs and leading industry experts.

For more information about GTEF, please visit: http://gte-forum.com.