HANGZHOU, August 7, 2023 – Leading stakeholders from the Chinese hotel industry converged at the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) headquarters in Hangzhou to discuss pivotal developments and chart the future path for the sector. The Chinese Hotel Industry Development Symposium saw the attendance of illustrious figures, including LIU Shijun, Vice Chair and Secretary-General of the WTA, WANG Jianping, President of the Zhejiang Hotel Association, MA Jie, Deputy President and Secretary-General of the Shandong Tourist Hotel Association, CHEN Fujiao, Deputy President and Secretary-General of the Hunan Tourist Hotel Association, YANG Yanping, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Tourism Trade Association Hotel Branch, CHEN Qian, Secretary-General of the Zhejiang Hotel Association, and ZHU Wei, Secretary-General of the Suzhou City Tourist Hotel Association.

In the middle of summer, a Mediterranean breeze blew through the traditional and lively buildings of Madrid, Spain, where a significant event was unfolded. The WTA•Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation, within the framework of the China-Spain Culture and Tourism Year, assembled distinguished guests from the tourism sectors of both countries, joining efforts to discuss cooperation in tourism, revisit traditional Sino-European friendships, and proactively contribute ideas for the global revival and sustainable development of the tourism industry.

On the heels of the "WTA • Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation", WTA Chairman ZHANG Xu led a five-member delegation to Paris from July 7th to 9th, 2023. On the morning of July 9th, ZHANG Xu met with Thierry Orsoni, Communications Director of the Club Med.

Following the productive session of the WTA • Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation, WTA Chairman ZHANG Xu led a delegation on an official visit to Paris from July 7th to 9th, 2023. On the afternoon of the 7th of July, Mr. ZHANG met with Caroline Leboucher, Director General of the French Tourism Development Agency.

The Chairman of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), ZHANG Xu, led a delegation to Brussels on a visit from July 5th to 7th, 2023, at the invitation of the European Tourism Commission. On the afternoon of the 6th, Mr. ZHANG discussed with representatives from the European Travel Commission, the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Associations, the EU-Asia Centre and the Europe-China OBOR Culture and Tourism Development Committee, exploring the potential for revitalized tourism cooperation between China and Europe in the post-pandemic era.

Under the framework of the ”WTA•Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation”, ZHANG Xu, World Tourism Alliance Chairman, led a delegation to Barcelona at the invitation of Turisme de Barcelona for a meeting with its Director Edward Torres, on July 4, 2023.

In the diplomatic sphere of the WTA•Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation, a significant international forum hosted in Madrid, the Chairman of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), Mr. ZHANG Xu, paid a formal visit to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) headquarters on July 3 for a meeting with the UNWTO Executive Director, Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic.

As part of the China-Spain Cultural and Tourism Year 2023 framework, the "WTA•Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation", a collaborative initiative of the World Tourism Alliance and the Spanish Tourism Authority (TURESPAÑA), was held at the InterContinental Madrid on July 3, 2023. Preceding this pivotal meeting, ZHANG Xu, Chairman of the World Tourism Alliance, met with the State Secretary for Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain, Rosa Ana Morillo, to deliberate on future Sino-Spanish tourism cooperation.

Marking the golden jubilee of China-Spain diplomatic relations, the year 2023 is an excellent opportunity to host the China-Spain Cultural and Tourism Year, a major initiative consented upon by President XI Jinping and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Under the framework of this initiative, the "WTA•Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation" was held in Madrid, Spain, on July 3rd. The event was co-organized by the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) and the Spanish Tourism Authority (TURESPAÑA), with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

 "World Tourism Alliance • Dialogue for China-Spain Tourism Cooperation" is set to take place in Madrid, Spain on July 3rd. Orchestrated under the vibrant umbrella of the China-Spain Culture and Tourism Year, the event is co-organized by the WTA and TURESPAÑA, and is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism of the Kingdom of Spanish.