ETW Staff – Mumbai
One of the world’s most useful tourism economy forums, the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), will take place at the Venetian Macau from October 12- 14, 2015 under the theme of “One Belt One Road– Unleashing New Dynamics of Cultural Tourism”.
The GTEF is a high-level tourism event hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macau SAR Government in collaboration with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). This year’s edition will continue to build upon the premise of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR), strengthening the tourism development of regions and countries along the MSR.
The forum will welcome members of the Pacific Alliance (Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia), joining as the Featured Partner Countries, and the Zhejiang province, one of the most important provinces on the MSR, joining as the Featured Province.
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director, MGTO said, “GTEF has important meaning for Macau. By organising the Forum, Macau can gain more experiences in organising 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.”
As a prelude to GTEF 2015, Pansy Ho, vice chairman and secretary-general of GTE, led a prominent delegation under the banner of GTEF to visit the Pacific Alliance countries in early June. Thirty influential entrepreneurs from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, who are engaged in a broad spectrum of tourism-related industries including property development, destination management, hospitality, retail and investment, met with ministers of tourism and ministers of foreign affairs from the Pacific Alliance countries and attended business networking events, gaining insights into the region’s investment landscape, tourism resources and market potentials, while sharing their experiences in catering to the evolving trends and consumption patterns of Chinese tourists.
Ho expressed her gratitude for the continuous support of the entire Macau community. In particular, she underscored the important impact of the forum, saying, “GTEF started the Chinese entrepreneurs’ business mission in 2013, aiming at extending its benefit beyond the forum period. Today, the business mission has become a crucial element that continues to inspire exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries. Greeted by ministers of tourism and foreign affairs with the warmest hospitality in our 12-day Pacific Alliance visit, we were able to experience first hand how the tourism sector can elevate cooperation and capitalise on the opportunity created by the new China-Latin America relationship.”