Vice Minister LU Yingchuan Meets with WTA Leadership During WTA • Xianghu Dialogue

On October 29, during the WTA • Xianghu Dialogue 2024 in Sanya, Mr. LU Yingchuan, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, met with the leadership team of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) and representatives from member organizations.

Mr. ZHANG Xu, Chair of WTA, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for its ongoing support and guidance. He reaffirmed WTA’s commitment to its founding mission, emphasizing the Alliance’s dedication to driving innovation and dynamism within the global tourism industry. Mr. LIU Shijun, WTA Vice Chair and Secretary-General, highlighted WTA’s achievements in areas such as organizational development, brand-building, international cooperation, public engagement, tourism-driven poverty alleviation, and industry research. Other attending WTA Vice Chairs praised China’s tourism industry progress, expressed their confidence in the Chinese market, and pledged to support WTA’s initiatives to advance global tourism.

Vice Minister LU congratulated the alliance on its recent achievements, noting that since its inception, the alliance has built an active and extensive network, creating a valuable platform for cooperation and exchange among tourism enterprises, associations, destinations, research institutions, and expert think tanks worldwide. Over the years, the alliance has consistently focused on poverty alleviation, rural revitalization case studies, and economic index research on China’s three major markets, aligning with its mission and addressing industry needs, underscoring its value in the sector. LU expressed his hope that the alliance would broaden its global perspective, actively engaging with voices across the international tourism sector to share compelling stories of global tourism. He urged the alliance to enhance the credibility, cohesion, and influence of the Xianghu Dialogue brand, further developing it as a premier platform for high-level discussions, collaborative efforts, and research consultation. In doing so, the alliance can more effectively contribute to the sustainable growth of the global tourism industry.

Prior to this meeting, WTA’s leadership convened to review the Alliance’s development over the past year and to outline the agenda for this year’s WTA • Xianghu Dialogue. The meeting was chaired by Mr. ZHANG Xu.