WTA Chair ZHANG Xu Attends the China International Travel Mart 2023

Kunming, November 17, 2023 – The China International Travel Mart 2023, co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, commenced today at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention & Exhibition Center. The opening ceremony was graced by SUN Yeli, Vice Minister of Publicity Department of CPC Central Committee and Party Group Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, WANG Ning, Secretary of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, YIN Shijun, Chief Engineer of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and the guest of honor, Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports. The Governor of Yunnan Province, WANG Yubo, presided over the ceremony. Mr. ZHANG Xu, WTA Chair, attended the opening ceremony and, alongside other leaders and international guests, inaugurated the event.

A highlight of the China International Travel Mart 2023, the 2023 Global Travel Agents Conference, opened in Kunming on the same day. Nearly 200 experts, entrepreneurs, and travel merchants from China, France, Spain, the UAE, Italy, Hungary, and other countries and regions gathered to engage in in-depth discussions aimed at strengthening international tourism cooperation and promoting the development of inbound tourism to China. Distinguished speakers including Mr. ZHANG Xu, WTA Chair, ZENG Yan, Minister of the Yunnan Provincial Publicity Department, Mr. LIANG Jianzhang, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Trip.com Group, Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med, and the Acting Deputy Director of the Hungarian National Tourist Office, Segna Rujiao, shared insights from their respective fields.

In his speech, Mr. ZHANG Xu emphasized the significance of tourism as a vital component of the global economy, embodying humanity’s pursuit of a better life and playing a crucial role in the implementation of global sustainable development goals. This year marks the 10th anniversary of China’s Belt and Road initiative. The travel mart aims to deepen cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation under this initiative, creating more opportunities for China and global tourism development under the banner of “Hello, China!” national tourism brand. The WTA will continue to leverage its platform for international exchange and cooperation, working closely with partners worldwide and in Yunnan Province to foster communication, build consensus, and enhance collaboration, thereby accelerating the rapid development of the global tourism industry.

The event also witnessed the official launch of the “Hello, China!” national tourism image. In a collaborative effort, Trip.com Group, China Tourism Group (CTG), Ant Group, HiSeas, CNN, and Guilin Tang Dynasty, among other industry-related enterprises, initiated an inbound tourism collaboration alliance. The initiative outlines strategies to optimize the entire inbound tourism chain, from service portals and foreign bank card mobile payment to overseas promotion of domestic destinations and improved group travel services, aiming to improve foreign tourists’ experiences.

During the event, Mr. ZHANG Xu was invited to participate in Mr. SUN Yeli’s meetings with international dignitaries, including the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports, the Myanmar Minister of Hotels and Tourism, the South African Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, and the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia.

Themed “Hello, China!”, the three-day event spans an exhibition area of about 90,000 square meters, featuring six thematic exhibition zones. It has attracted tourism promotion agencies, related enterprises, and over 800 international travel merchants from more than 70 countries and regions.