2023.11.16
Hangzhou, November 15 – The World Tourism Alliance (WTA) successfully held its Annual Meeting 2023 at the Huanglong Hotel in Hangzhou this morning.
The meeting was attended by prominent figures including Mr. ZHANG Xu, WTA Chair, Vice Chairs Mr. Adam BURKE, Pansy HO, Mr. Eduardo SANTANDER, XU Peng, and was chaired by Mr. LIU Shijun, WTA Vice Chair and Secretary-General. The event saw the participation of nearly 300 members and guests from around the globe, including Mr. UJHELYI István, Member of European Parliament, Stanley BANDA, Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in China, and Adel BEN YACOUB, Counselor at the Embassy of Tunisia.
The agenda of the Annual Meeting encompassed a Report on the 2nd Session of the 2nd WTA Council, a Report on WTA General Program of Work for 2023 and Draft Program of Work for 2024, and the Presentation of New Member Certificates. Highlights included the introduction of the “2023 WTA Best Practices of Rural Revitalization Through Tourism” and “Tourism: A Driver for Shared Prosperity”. A significant moment was marked by Mr. LIU Shijun representing WTA Research in signing a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd. This year’s meeting focused on a comprehensive review and future outlook from various perspectives including infrastructure development, brand evolution, tourism-driven poverty alleviation, and tourism industry research.
This year, the WTA successfully completed the leadership transition and established its headquarters in Hangzhou, marking a new chapter in the course supporting the development of the tourism industry. Moving forward, the WTA will remain dedicated to its core philosophy of “Better Tourism, Better Life, Better World”, sparing no efforts to build up an international exchange and cooperation platform, organize brand events, conduct industry research, and enhance communication within the industry. By sharing experiences and fostering consensus, the WTA will fully leverage its unique advantages as a non-governmental international tourism organization, actively promoting sustainable and inclusive development in the global tourism sector.
To date, the WTA boasts 236 members from 41 countries and regions, reflecting its growing influence and commitment to fostering a more connected and prosperous global tourism landscape.
