2023-11-20
In a pivotal segment of the 2023 WTA • Xianghu Dialogue titled “Harmony and Sharing: Tourism Advances Sustainable Development”, Mr. Eric DRÉSIN, Secretary-General of ECTAA, shared his insights on the “Current Bottlenecks, Challenges, and Innovative Suggestions for Europe-China Tourism Development”.
Here are excerpts from his speech:
Sustainability is a key element in the development of the tourism industry. Without it, ensuring a sustainable future for tourism and travelers alike becomes a challenging task. Post-pandemic, we are all eager to see the tourism sector bounce back and step into a brighter future.
Since its inception in 1961, the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA), a global organization born in Europe, has been deeply rooted in the European local market. It has actively deepened cooperation with tourism enterprises and continuously expanded long-haul and international travel services. In Europe, there are 80,000 travel companies, collectively generating annual sales of 300 million flight tickets and 210 million travel package products, with a turnover of approximately 200 billion euros.
The association has a keen interest in establishing business relations with China. Airlines have invested significant efforts and funds, aiming for cost reduction and efficiency improvement in the recovery phase to achieve better performance. Investors are looking forward to strengthening infrastructure investments in areas like rural tourism and business travel for higher profit returns. Payment institutions, on the other hand, are eager to introduce more secure and convenient payment methods to facilitate non-Chinese tourists, such as those from the West, to have convenient payment options while traveling in China.
China also seeks to engage in tourism-related commercial activities with Europe. However, we are facing practical challenges, such as simplifying visa procedures to quickly reboot the tourism industry and taking the first step towards interconnectedness through tourism. Global challenges like geopolitical instability and natural disasters, as well as regional challenges like the impact of inflation, are also significant concerns.
In the past three years, domestic tourism has gained prominence, with countries focusing on developing local tourist destinations. However, as important partners, China and Europe should not overlook the potential of sustainable cooperation and development in tourism. Both regions possess unique attractions and should strengthen bilateral market cooperation and promotion, bringing tangible benefits through practical actions.
The journey ahead requires creating a sustainable tourism industry. We anticipate China to keep its focus on sustainable development, integrating sustainable concepts and elements into tourism products. For example, such efforts may include enhancing ESG disclosure requirements in business travel and introducing sustainable practices in rural revitalization through tourism.
In conclusion, I call upon my fellow leaders in the tourism industry to lead by example. We must actively promote the concept of sustainable development. This includes implementing more sustainable tourism projects, strengthening the tracking and assessment of carbon emissions, and accumulating valuable experiences in environmental sustainability. These steps are not just necessary but essential for the long-term, sustainable prosperity of our industry. Together, we can build a more sustainable and resilient tourism sector for future generations.