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WTA to Host EU-China Tourism Dialogue in Budapest

2024.06.14

WTA to Host EU-China Tourism Dialogue in Budapest

The “EU-China Tourism Dialogue” is scheduled to take place from July 3 to 5 in Budapest, Hungary. This event is co-hosted by the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), the European Travel Commission (ETC), and the Hungarian Tourism Agency, with support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry for National Economy of Hungary and the Ministry for EU Affairs of Hungary.

In 2024, China and Hungary celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Following President XI Jinping’s historic state visit to Hungary in May, the bilateral relationship has been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era. The “EU-China Tourism Dialogue” is a testament to the enduring friendship between the two nations and the fruitful collaboration in tourism between China and Europe. This dialogue, the first international tourism conference since Hungary assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, will create more opportunities to promote China-Hungary and China-EU tourism cooperation. The event aims to establish a professional international tourism dialogue platform, further promoting civil exchanges and cooperation in the tourism industry, making China-EU tourism more dynamic, China-EU cooperation more vibrant, and China-EU relations more resilient.

“EU-China Tourism Dialogue” Venue: Bálna, Budapest“EU-China Tourism Dialogue” Venue: Bálna, Budapest

Under the theme “Tourism Bridging China and Europe, Together Towards a Bright Future”, the dialogue will focus on key topics such as “Artificial Intelligence Enhance the Competitiveness of the Tourism Industry- Big Data Drives Sustainable Tourism Development”, “The Role of Art and Culture and New Media Communication in Marketing”, and “Changing Consumption Trends in Market Segments and the Evolution of Tourism Products”. The event will feature keynote speeches, panels, report announcements, and a photo exhibition. Delegates from tourism authorities, international organizations, tourist cities, major tourism enterprises, OTA platforms, and research institutions from 35 countries and regions will share insights and discuss the sustainable development of the EU-China tourism market. During the event, the WTA will release the “Cross-Border Tourism Spending Trends Report 2023-2024”, a collaborative study with Mastercard, Trip.com, and Ant Group. This report aims to shed light on the latest trends in cross-border tourism consumption.

China and Europe are significant tourism destinations and sources for each other. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, 87 million Chinese citizens traveled abroad in 2023, with over a quarter showing interest in visiting Europe and the Americas. The ETC’s Long-Haul Travel Barometer reported that 63% of Chinese tourists consider Europe as a preferred destination. China’s extension of visa-free policies for 12 European countries, including France and Hungary, and the implementation of visa-free entry for foreign cruise tourists have further fueled interest in travel to China. Notably, the number of French nationals entering China for business and tourism has increased by 294.71% this year. Currently, the continued deepening of cultural and tourism cooperation between China and Europe is a shared aspiration across various sectors, consistently fostering mutual understanding and connections between the peoples of China and Europe.

WTA WTA headquartered in Hangzhou

Established in September 2017 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, the WTA is a comprehensive, non-governmental, non-profit international tourism organization. It currently has 240 members from 42 countries and regions. Over the past six years, the WTA has actively promoted global tourism interconnectivity and shared governance under the motto “Better Tourism, Better Life, Better World”. Committed to its mission “Promoting Tourism for Peace, Development, and Poverty Alleviation”, the WTA has launched a series of dialogues, such as the “WTA·Xianghu Dialogue”, the “WTA·Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation”, the “WTA·Urban Tourism Dialogue”, and the “WTA·Yellow River Dialogue”, along with flagship events like the WTA Members’ Day and WTA Annual Reception. The WTA has published over 20 research reports, including the “World Tourism Innovation Development Report” and the “Report on Development of Tourism Cooperation along Belt and Road”. It has compiled 250 best practices of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization through tourism, significantly contributing to the sustainable and inclusive development of global tourism.