Vice Chair & Secretary-General LIU Shijun Participates in the 10th Global Tourism Economy Forum

MACAO, September 23rd, 2023 – The 10th Global Tourism Economy Forum took place in Macao SAR from September 21st to 23rd. Hosted by the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, and in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the event was co-organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office and China Chamber of Tourism (CCT) and coordinated by the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC). The forum received support from entities including the World Tourism Alliance (WTA). At the invitation of the organizers, WTA’s Vice Chair & Secretary-General LIU Shijun presided over a discussion titled “Shaping the Future of Travel: The Transformative Power of Technology”. In his introductory remarks, LIU emphasized the rapid recovery of the global tourism sector, noting that digital transformation, integral to the future of tourism and hospitality, offers boundless potential.. Among the panelists, HU Xin, Vice President of Tencent Cloud, elaborated on the transformative role of smart infrastructure and real estate solutions in shaping future tourism experiences. WANG Wei, Senior Vice President of Trip.Com Group, shed light on the influence of digital technologies and large-scale industry models on the tourism sector’s future. John SUN, Chairman of Macau Pass Group Holdings Limited, discussed the opportunities and challenges technological innovations and related policies present to Macao’s tourism industry. YAN Hao, General Manager of Public Affairs for Greater Bay Area, Douyin Group, introduced the “Douyin Rural Revitalization Program” and its strategy to leverage online traffic to boost rural development.

In Macao, LIU also engaged with prominent industry figures.

On the morning of September 21st, LIU met with Eduardo Santander, the Executive Director of the European Travel Commission (ETC). Both parties engaged in an in-depth dialogue regarding potential collaborations under the 2023 World Tourism Alliance • Xianghu Dialogue framework and prospective plans for Sino-European Tourism Dialogue 2024.

In the afternoon, LIU met with Paul WONG, President of the Macau Leisure Tourism Services Innovation Association. LIU elaborated on the WTA’s brand-building endeavors and member expansion efforts. WONG, alongside deputy presidents and the chief supervisor, provided an overview of the association’s history, membership composition, and future plans and inquired about terms and processes for joining WTA. Both parties expressed a keen interest in strengthening their communications to find collaborative opportunities and jointly facilitate exchanges between Mainland China and Macao’s tourism sectors.