2023.11.16
Hangzhou, November 14, 2023 – During the 2023 WTA • Xianghu Dialogue in Hangzhou, RAO Quan, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, met with the second leadership team of the WTA and representatives from various member organizations.
Mr. ZHANG Xu, WTA Chair, on behalf of the WTA leadership, expressed gratitude to RAO Quan and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for their long-standing support and guidance towards the WTA. He outlined the preparations and participating guests for the current Xianghu Dialogue, sharing the achievements made in infrastructure, branding, poverty alleviation through tourism, international exchanges, and industry research since the leadership transition earlier this year and the establishment of the headquarters in Hangzhou. ZHANG Xu conveyed the WTA’s commitment to leverage its platform for industry prosperity and hoped for continued guidance and support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Vice Chairs in attendance acknowledged the Secretariat’s efforts and expressed optimism for the Alliance’s future. They showed willingness to mobilize resources, harnessing “The Power of Travel and Tourism” to contribute to the growth of the WTA, tourism recovery, and long-term global prosperity.
RAO warmly recalled his April visit to the WTA headquarters, highly commending the WTA’s development and expressing earnest expectations. He acknowledged the leadership team’s performance, noting that strong leadership is fundamental for the development of international non-governmental organizations. He recognized the WTA’s role as a communication platform and a think tank in tourism, contributing significantly to the global tourism industry’s recovery and sustainable development. The establishment and smooth operation of the WTA headquarters in Hangzhou demonstrate its strong appeal to relevant parties. RAO affirmed the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s unwavering support for the WTA and expressed his wishes for the WTA to play an even greater role under the new leadership. He stated the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the WTA and the communities its represented in promoting global tourism development.
Before the meeting, the WTA’s second leadership team convened an internal meeting to review the WTA’s work over the past year and finalize the agenda for the current Xianghu Dialogue.