On March 20th, Mr. Liu Shijun, the Vice Chair and Secretary-General of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) attended a meeting with Mr. Fahd M. Hamidaddin, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and CEO of the Tourism Authority of Saudi Arabia in Beijing at the latter’s invitation. The two exchanged views on future plans of cooperation through the platforms and initiatives of WTA.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the “2023 Discover China Cultural Tour” kicked off in Beijing on March the 21st. Hu Heping, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, attend the launching ceremony together with 73 diplomats and envoys from 49 countries. Pansy Ho, Vice Chair of WTA, and Liu Shijun, WTA Vice Chair and Secretary-General were invited to join the participating ambassadors, heads of cultural and tourism organizations and enterprises in launching the program for the whole year by operating the activation device on the stage.

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On February 2 and 3, Hu Heping, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, met with the new leadership of the World Tourism Alliance in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

On February 24, during the 2022 Xianghu Dialogue held in Hangzhou, the World Tourism Alliance and International Poverty Reduction Center in China jointly released the WTA Best Practices in Rural Revitalization through Tourism 2022, a collection of 50 select best practices.

On February 24, the World Tourism Alliance staged a ceremony to inaugurate its headquarters building in Xianghu, Hangzhou. At the ceremony, Hu Heping, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, Wang Hao, Governor of Zhejiang Province, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, WTA Chairman Zhang Xu and his predecessor Duan Qiang, and the special ambassador of the UNWTO Dr. Istvan Ujhelyi pulled the rope together, setting the “giant vessel” of the WTA to sail, announcing the official opening of the WTA headquarters building. Liu Jie, member of the Standing Committee of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and Party Secretary of Hangzhou, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech.

On February 23, the World Tourism Alliance convened the Second General Assembly and the First Session of its Second Council in Hangzhou, China. The General Assembly attracted more than 300 participants, including representatives of WTA members, distinguished guests, and journalists.

On February 24, the World Tourism Alliance kicked off the Xianghu Dialogue 2022 in Hangzhou, where the WTA headquarters is located. Hu Heping, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Yi Lianhong, Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, and WTA Chairman Zhang Xu attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Mr. Reyes Maroto Illera delivered a video message. The opening ceremony was presided over by Liu Shijun, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Alliance.

The 18th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair officially kicked off at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center on the afternoon of December 28, 2022.

On December 20, the World Tourism Alliance officially moved into its Xianghu headquarters in Hangzhou, opening a new chapter in the development of the Alliance.