WTA Advances Preparations for EU-China Tourism Dialogue in Hungary

In a significant stride toward fostering deeper tourism cooperation between China and Europe, the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), in collaboration with the European Travel Commission (ETC) and the Hungarian Tourism Agency, is set to co-host the “EU-China Tourism Dialogue” in Budapest, Hungary. Scheduled from July 3-5, 2024, this pivotal event aims to promote interconnectivity and sustainable, inclusive development within the global tourism industry. Recently, Mr. LIU Shijun, WTA Vice Chair and Secretary-General, led a delegation to Budapest to meet with officials from the ETC and the Hungarian Tourism Agency to discuss and align on the event’s preparatory efforts.

On May 9, the WTA Secretariat met with Mr. Könnyid László, Director of the Hungarian Tourism Agency. Mr. LIU expressed that the upcoming dialogue aims to create a professional platform for international tourism discussions, fostering grassroots exchanges and cooperation within the industry. The WTA is committed to further enhancing communication and collaboration with the Hungarian Tourism Agency and the ETC on an equal and mutually beneficial basis, continuing to prepare and implement various initiatives, and promoting bi-directional tourism flows between China and Europe.

Mr. Könnyid László welcomed the delegation, highlighting the significance of the dialogue during Hungary’s presidency of the EU Council and on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary. He affirmed that this event would contribute to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe and pledged full support for coordinating the necessary arrangements.

From May 9-10, the WTA Secretariat visited stakeholders in Budapest, including the China National Tourist Office Budapest, the China Cultural Center in Budapest, and Hungarian members of the WTA such as Zala Spring Golf Resort, the European Federation of Chinese Tourism, and the Donau Hotel Group. Leaders from these organizations, including Benkócs Tamás, President and CEO of Zala Spring Golf Resort; Mácsai Péter, Regional Manager of the Donau Hotel Group; and Gao Minlan, President of the Central and Eastern European Tourism Federation within the European Federation of Chinese Tourism, expressed their enthusiasm for actively participating in WTA activities, deepening their collaboration with the WTA, thereby further promoting cultural and tourism exchanges between China and Europe.

Accompanying the delegation were YANG Wenjiao, WTA Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Division of Cooperation and Development, ZHAO Xinshu, Director of WTA Liaison Office, Beijing, and GUO Ruitong, Program Officer of the Division of Cooperation and Development.