2020.10.10
On October 10, 2020, the press conference on “100 WTA Best Practices in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism” was successfully concluded in Beijing. Mr. Duan Qiang, Chairman of WTA, attended and addressed the press conference. Mr. Liu Shijun, Secretary-General of WTA, Ms. Li Xin, Deputy Director of International Poverty Reduction Center in China, and Mr. Yan Guangming, Senior Urban Development Specialist of the World Bank respectively introduced the work related to poverty reduction through tourism.
2020 marks the concluding year for China to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and also a decisive year for poverty alleviation, which is a milestone for China’s poverty alleviation cause. From 2018 to 2020, WTA joined hands with the World Bank and International Poverty Reduction Center in China in unveiling the WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism, including 100 global cases. Through tripartite channels, WTA have cooperated with relevant international organizations such as UNWTO and PATA, global members of WTA, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, and provincial tourism departments, to collect the best practice in poverty alleviation worldwide. The selection was carried out according to the principle of fairness and justice as well as the measurable poverty alleviation effect, innovation, replication, positive social impact, sustainability standards, etc., which has contributed examples and wisdom to the cause of poverty alleviation through tourism.
The WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism released has received great attention and been widely disseminated across the industry. In 2019, WTA, based on this blueprint, cooperated with China Global Television Network (CGTN) under China Media Group to shoot a video entitled “Better Tourism, Better Life, Better World”. On September 27, 2019, WTA and China National Tourism Administration Rome Office jointly held the “Roadshow of Poverty Alleviation through Tourism in China” and the “Picture Exhibition on Poverty Alleviation through Tourism in China” at FAO headquarters. At the introduction and marketing event, WTA presented the WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism 2019 to FAO, shared the practices of poverty reduction through tourism of Congjiang in Guizhou and Airbnb Guilin Longsheng on the scene, and invited the participants to jointly watch the video of practices in poverty alleviation through tourism entitled “Better Tourism, Better Life, Better World”. The learning platform at xuexi.cn has especially set up the feature of “WTA ·Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation”, to continuously publish the best practices in poverty alleviation through tourism, micro records, related reports, news and so on in 2018-2020.
As a comprehensive, non-governmental, non-profit international tourism organization initiated by China upon approval by the State Council, WTA has positioned itself as an advocate and practitioner of the cause of tourism for poverty alleviation, which is also taken by it as one of its missions. In recent three years, WTA, making use of its advantages and international platform, has carried out a series of practical and international exchange activities in case analysis, theoretical research and experience publicity of poverty reduction through tourism in line with the idea of telling good stories about China and giving Chinese approach. It has demonstrated to the international community China’s important experience and great achievements in poverty reduction through tourism, attracting extensive attention from the international tourism industry. 90% of the 100 cases of poverty reduction through tourism included in the WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism are from China.
WTA is actively advocating for poverty reduction through tourism worldwide through its own and other international platforms. In 2018 and 2019, WTA released the WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism 2018 and 2019 at its annual brand event “WTA·Xianghu Dialogue”; held the premiere for the video of practices in poverty alleviation through tourism entitled “Better Tourism, Better Life, Better World”; and cooperated with its member organization – China Tourism Academy in jointly releasing the2018 Report on World Tourism Development – Global Process of Tourism for Poverty Alleviation and Demands of the Times and the 2019 Report on World Tourism Development – Industry Implantation and Cultural Development of Tourism for Poverty Alleviation. This is also the first time that a non-government international tourism organization has released a report of poverty reduction through tourism, fully demonstrating China’s achievements of theoretical research on poverty reduction through tourism.
In addition, WTA also contributes to poverty reduction through tourism through various activity platforms such as WTA Members’ Day and sodality meetings at home and abroad, showcasing the results of China’s efforts in poverty reduction through tourism. For example, two WTA Members’ Day activities held in Enshi, Hubei and Guilin, Guangxi in May and June, 2019 both focused on poverty reduction through tourism. At the two WTA Members’ Day activities, the practices and experience of poverty reduction through tourism of WTA member – Hubei Culture & Tourism Investment Group and Airbnb, were shared respectively, and various forms of exchanges were conducted to promote poverty reduction through tourism via rural revitalization, resource development, community participation and sharing economy.
On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and China’s National Poverty Alleviation Day held on October 17, 2019, Secretary-General Liu Shijun delivered a keynote speech entitled “Poverty Reduction through Tourism and Sustainable Development” at the 13th UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook, highlighting that tourism has become an important force in promoting sustainable economic and social development of poverty-stricken areas. In addition, he made an in-depth analysis of the importance of tourism to poverty reduction from five aspects including country, region, economy, culture and society according to China’s practices of poverty reduction through tourism, and explained to the international tourism industry China’s concept of poverty reduction through tourism, i.e., “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”.
Poverty alleviation requires unremitting efforts. Going forward, WTA will also continue to integrate their resources, optimize relevant platforms, pool the strength of global members and worldwide partners to strengthen cooperation with other parties in the international community in the cause of poverty reduction through tourism, and to explore ways to jointly establish a database of practices on poverty alleviation through tourism and carry out research on poverty alleviation through tourism, intangible cultural heritage protection and other public benefit activities. Moreover, WTA will continue to uphold the mission of “Tourism for Development, Peace and Poverty Alleviation”, continuously call on the tourism industry to pay attention to poverty alleviation and related social and public welfare undertakings, and move forward to realize the purpose of “Better Tourism, Better Life, Better World”.