The World Tourism Alliance Reception Held in Beijing

On December 2, the annual reception of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) was successfully held in Beijing. A total of more than 200 people, including Duan Qiang, Chairman of WTA, 8 foreign ambassadors to China from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Thailand, Mauritius and Mexico, as well as foreign representatives of 16 embassies in China and WTA members, overseas tourism agencies in China, international organizations and the media, attended the reception.

Duan Qiang, Chairman of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA)

Duan Qiang said in his speech that, although tourism was hit by the pandemic to an unprecedented extent, the foundation for long-term positive development of global tourism remains unchanged. We should enhance confidence, preserve strength, and expand communication. WTA would continue to build a cooperation platform for dialogue and exchange, a practical and authoritative information platform, a media platform for resource sharing, and a communication platform for integrated development, so as to deepen exchanges and cooperation between countries and regions in the world, and promote sustainable and healthy development of global tourism.

Ahcene Boukhelfa, Ambassador of Algeria to China

Ahcene Boukhelfa, Ambassador of Algeria to China, said, “China and Arab have been conducting close cooperation in tourism. It’s hoped that the two sides can continue to enhance people-to-people exchanges, and WTA can continue to provide a platform for various countries to make communication and cooperation in tourism, and better promote the development of the world’s tourism industry.”

Dario Mihelin, Ambassador of Croatia to China

Dario Mihelin introduced to participants rich tourism resources of Croatia. With a total population of more than 4 million, Croatia receives more than 12 million tourists each year. Tourism plays an important role in its national economy. He hoped that the two sides can enhance tourism cooperation, and further expand personnel exchanges. Finally, he expressed the best wishes of all countries in the world for scoring a victory in containing the virus and jointly promoting tourism recovery.

Liu Shijun, Secretary-General of WTA

Liu Shijun, Secretary-General of WTA, introduced the work of WTA in 2020 and its work plan for 2021. In 2020, in light of the pandemic control situation, WTA has taken the initiative to build a communication platform for the international tourism industry, and successfully organized many brand activities such as WTA·Yellow River Dialogue, WTA·Yiwu Dialogue and WTA·Xianghu Dialogue; in 2021, WTA will continue to carry out a series of brand dialogue activities, promote industry researches, organize “WTA Members’ Day” activities, and make unremitting efforts in poverty alleviation in tourism.

Chen Guanqi, Trip.com Group

Chen Guanqi, General Manager of Cooperation in International Affairs of Trip.com Group, a WTA member, shared his feelings as the member representative.

Face Painting

Paper-Cutting Skill

Xie Family’s Ancient Method of Making Chinese Guqin

Silk Road Dance Performance

At the activity scene, Xi’an Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism brought some intangible cultural heritage experiences such as nail face painting, paper-cutting, and Xie family’s ancient method of making Chinese Guqin.

Group Photo

WTA currently has 211 members from 40 countries and regions, including national tourism associations, influential tourism enterprises, academia, cities and media, heads of international organizations, former politicians of some countries, former tourism officials, heads of tourism enterprises, famous scholars, etc.