2024.10.15
From October 8 to 9, Mr. ZHANG Xu, Chair of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), attended the 24th Global Summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in Perth, Australia, on invitation. During the summit, Mr. ZHANG engaged in discussions with leaders from tourism authorities, international tourism organizations, and executives in tourism industry on driving the development of global tourism.
During the summit, at the special ‘China Tourism Market Roundtable’ session Mr. ZHANG Xu, Ms. Pansy HO, Vice Chair of the WTA and Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), and Ms. Jane SUN, CEO of Trip.com Group, joined Ms. Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC, to discuss the latest trends in China’s tourism market and how to reshape the global tourism landscape.
Mr. ZHANG Xu highlighted the significant increase in both cross-border travel numbers and spending as the global tourism industry strongly recovers. In response to new trends and changes, the tourism industry needs to enhance win-win cooperation, innovate service models, and improve travel convenience. He stressed the importance of promoting sustainable development by implementing effective environmental and cultural heritage protection measures. WTA is eager to collaborate with WTTC and other international organizations, leveraging the strengths of global tourism bodies to build platforms for international exchange and cooperation, fostering the inclusive and sustainable growth of the global tourism sector.
Ms. Julia Simpson noted that China is at the center of global attention in the tourism industry. The pace of China’s tourism recovery has been remarkable, and the country is transforming the global tourism landscape with its large population, rising incomes, and growing demand for travel. WTTC places great importance on China’s tourism market and looks forward to strengthening partnerships with China to jointly advance tourism development.
WTTC is the world’s most influential forum for leaders in the tourism industry, with nearly 100 CEOs from well-known travel companies among its members. Its Global Summit attracts top government officials, heads of tourism departments, and senior executives from around the world. The theme of this year’s summit, “Ancient Land: New Perspectives”, focused on enhancing tourism’s resilience and adaptability, driving the industry towards a safer, more resilient, and sustainable future. Notable guests included John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, and Roger Cook, Premier of Western Australia, along with over 800 participants from around the world.