The esteemed speakers, key topics covered, programme, and agenda at the 10th Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF)
The 10th Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) kicked off at the Galaxy International Convention Center in Macau, celebrating its milestone anniversary with over 1,500 global tourism industry leaders. Themed “Destination 2030: Unlocking the Power of Tourism for Business and Development,” the forum aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; aiming to explore opportunities for global tourism recovery by going beyond conventional approaches, fostering resilience, quality, and people-centricity in the industry.
The event’s speakers highlighted key aspects of tourism development. Ho Hau Wah, Chairman of GTEF, emphasised the forum’s role in uniting the global cultural tourism industry for high-quality development. UNWTO’s Pololikashvili envisioned GTEF as a premier platform shaping tourism’s future around pillars of jobs, education, innovation, and investments.
Hu Heping, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, expressed the hope for an open and inclusive environment for tourism development. Lei Wai Nong, Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao, highlighted the significance of GTEF in showcasing Macao’s capabilities and contributing to national and global tourism economies.
Daniela Garnero Santanchè, Minister of Tourism of Italy, represented the Partner Country and underscored tourism’s role in fostering cultural, social, and economic exchanges. Qiu Xiaoping, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, emphasised GTEF’s role in connecting China’s tourism industry with global counterparts.
The forum included keynote speeches by Pansy Ho, Long Yongtu, and Julia Simpson. Pansy Ho emphasised the visionary path for tourism’s potential, Long Yongtu spoke on China and the world’s new vision, and Julia Simpson addressed collaboration for prosperity and development.
With Italy as the Partner Country and Shanghai as the Featured City, the forum featured diverse interviews and case studies to inject new ideas into global tourism development. The event delved into discussions on the trends of the tourism economy with 14 panel sessions. Topics included investing in people, planet, and prosperity, the next decade for China and the world, industry-driven innovations, Chinese outbound tourism, and the potential of the Greater Bay Area. Parallel sessions, including the Investment and Financing Conference, targeted to expand channels for investment and cooperation in the cultural tourism industry.
GTEF 2023 adopted a hybrid online-offline format, engaging over 1 million online views on the first day. The program unfolded with discussions on innovative measures for high-quality and sustainable tourism development, including sessions on sustainability, reshaping tourism in Europe, redefining city tourism, and Italy as a destination for Asian tourists.
The forum celebrated its 10th anniversary with a lunch at Wynn Palace, where Lei Wai Nong highlighted GTEF as a diverse platform for international exchange. Zhang Xu, Chair of the World Tourism Alliance, praised GTEF’s success in bridging political and industry leaders, experts, scholars, and professionals to discuss global tourism’s major topics.
GTEF, since its inception in 2012, has evolved into a major event for the international tourism industry, embodying the spirit of openness, cooperation, and exploration. The 10th GTEF marks a decade of success, showcasing Macao’s unique brand in international tourism.
