Overseas promotion on the fourth edition of the Global Tourism Economy Forum to be held at the Venetian Macao from 12 to 14 October 2015, began its Southeast Asia Roadshow in Singapore on August 24. Supported by MGM Macau, the roadshow is aimed at engaging the Singaporean tourism community in the promotion of GTEF 2015 and cultural tourism in Macau. Special travel packages were offered exclusively to Singaporean travellers by the forum and MGM Macau.
GTEF, an annual international event that focuses on the global tourism economy, offers a high-level exchange and cooperation platform for tourism leaders from the public and private sectors to share their insights and expertise. It is also for tourism stakeholders from China and around the world to explore cross-regional and cross-sectoral cooperation opportunities.
Building on the premise of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR), which represents open and inclusive regional and international cooperation, GTEF 2015 will focus on the theme of “Belt and Road Initiative: Unleashing the New Dynamics of Cultural Tourism”. The theme explores subject matters such as connectivity, public-private partnership, Chinese consumer behaviour and overseas investment trends, symbiosis of cultural heritage and creative living culture and the impact of social media on tourism.
GTEF’s emphasis on exchange and cooperation is fully in line with the global tourism agenda on deepening regional cooperation, championed by the Chinese Government for the past few years and APEC in its 2014 Tourism Ministerial Meeting. The Forum’s discussion on the Belt and Road Initiative is timely as the Initiative is a recurring issue across Southeast Asia and Latin America, with high-level Chinese government officials such as Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting these regions in recent months. This is to underscore the importance of bilateral collaborations between China and these regions. In addition, the Pacific Alliance countries – Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru – will be the Featured Partner Countries at GTEF 2015.
At the first stop of the Southeast Asia roadshow GTEF hosted a networking luncheon at Hilton Singapore, connecting representatives from GTEF, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), tourism leaders from international travel agencies, transnational hoteliers, chambers of commerce and trade associations, as well as local, regional and international media, to enhance mutual understanding. It also offered a trade meeting opportunity between the Singaporean tourism sector and GTEF to explore collaboration possibilities.
Mr. Peter Wong, Vice Chairman of GTEF and Executive Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism; Mr. Charles Leong, Managing Director of MGTO Representative Office in Singapore; Mr. Darren Ng, Chairman of PATA Singapore Chapter; Mr. Paul Chung, Director of Sales MGM MACAU; and Mr. Michael Chow, Group Publisher – TTG Travel Trade Publishing of TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd were among the luncheon attendees. Details on the fourth edition of the Forum were presented by Mr. Jason Wang, Programming Director of GTEF.
“GTEF is grateful to have received tremendous support for our Southeast Asia roadshow from the PATA, MGTO Representative Office in Singapore and MGM MACAU and TTG Asia. Singapore is not only a region that shares geographical and cultural similarities with Macau, but also an invaluable partner in economic cooperation. Because tourism is both a major industry and a major contributor to the economy for both Singapore and Macau, we believe the Singaporean tourism community and GTEF are perfect partners in championing the global movement of deepening and broadening regional cooperation through tourism exchange. We look forward to your participation in this year’s edition,” said Mr. Peter Wong during his welcome speech at the networking luncheon.
Peter Wong, Vice Chairman of GTEF and Executive Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism, delivering his welcome speech at the networking luncheon.
