Rebuilding World Tourism for Prosperity - World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development Kicked off in Beijing

Hu Heping, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, is delivering a speech at the opening ceremony

Chen Jining, Chairman of the WTCF Council and Mayor of Beijing, is delivering an opening address

Jonon Sherali, Deputy Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), is addressing a speech

Wang Hong, Executive Vice Chairman of the WTCF Council and Vice Mayor of Beijing, is giving a keynote speech

Chen Honghui, Vice Mayor of Wuhan, is giving a speech at the opening ceremony

On September 5th at 9 am, the World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development hosted by World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) kicked off grandly at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. It is one of the four summit forums organized during 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), and is the only conference sponsored by an international organization. Themed with "Rebuilding World Tourism for Prosperity", the conference is comprised of six sessions, including the opening ceremony, keynote speech, release of research results, themed forums, the Tourism Investment and Financing Conference, and the special online program "Insight of Professionals". There are over 50 speakers and around 300 representatives attending the conference, which consists of heads of international organizations, envoys to China, representatives of WTCF, established tourism enterprises, heads of investment institutions and etc. At this critical moment of rejuvenating the industry and implementing global pandemic prevention and control, this conference is significant for world tourism in terms of promoting collaboration, boosting confidence in development, and regaining prosperity.

Building an International Collaboration and Exchange Platform to Produce Prosperity in Tourism

The World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development has partnered with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and is co-organized with 10 international organizations and top tourism exhibition organizers, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and etc. The conference is broadcasted in real-time globally in five languages, including Chinese, English, French, Spanish and Russian. At the same time, its online livestream is available globally, especially to 200-plus member units of WTCF in over 150 cities across 75 countries and regions. The conference also launched a special online program, "Insight of Professionals", where professionals from different fields with different perspectives can share their experiences and opinions on tourism.

Chen Jining, Chairman of the WTCF Council and Mayor of Beijing, delivered an opening address at the opening ceremony. He gave three suggestions to all tourism cities and practitioners: Firstly, effectively strengthen international collaboration in pandemic prevention and control. Secondly, advocate green or eco-friendly tourism. Thirdly, take the initiative to help relative enterprises and practitioners. At last, he highlighted that after experiencing pandemic prevention and control as well as socio-economical development, people firmly believed that the unity and wisdom of mankind would eventually overcome difficulties and challenges. As long as all global cities and practitioners take immediate action, the world tourism and economy will surely usher in a better tomorrow.

Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UNWTO, also delivered a speech via video at the opening ceremony. He expressed that UNWTO had worked with WTCF and other international tourism organizations to host this conference, which aimed to boost confidence in rebuilding world tourism through multilateral collaboration. In addition, tourism could provide employment opportunities to boost communities and even cities. It is critical to ensure health and security when recovering tourism in cities. In order to achieve that, we need to foster collaboration to strengthen safety regulations and use innovative technologies.

Hu Heping, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, said in his speech that the COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious global public health emergency since the end of the World War II. It has posed an unprecedented threat to the safety of human life, has dealt a heavy blow to the world economy, and has imposed a severe test on the governing capacity of countries worldwide. This conference explored the development of world tourism amid COVID-19, fully demonstrating the firm determination of the world tourism industry to unite and overcome challenges. It is of great significance to gather global wisdom, experience, the strength to facilitate the revitalization and prosperity of world tourism. China is willing to deepen cooperation and share its experience with other countries to jointly promote the success and development of the industry.

Releasing Research Results and Leading the Recovery and Revitalization of the World Tourism Industry

Chen Dong, Secretary-General of WTCF and Director-General of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, is releasing Action Guide on Recovery and Revitalization of City Tourism amid COVID-19

Du Yili, Expert of WTCF, is releasing Report on Recovery and Development of World Tourism amid COVID-19

Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF, is moderating the keynote speech

In the keynote speech session, Wang Hong, Executive Vice Chairman of the WTCF Council and Vice Mayor of Beijing, pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the developmental course, travel and management modes of world tourism. The recovery of the industry is an important indicator of the recovery of the world economy, a strong support for safeguarding social security and stability, as well as a key element to consolidate the results of pandemic prevention and control. "We must establish a more humane, sound and orderly developmental concept, attach equal importance to pandemic prevention and control as well as tourism resumption. It is also imperative that we introduce a systematic plan for the recovery of tourism as soon as possible, adopt a flexible management model according to different levels of response, different regions and different periods, to speed up the establishment of an industrial form and a management model for tourism in line with the prevention and control of COVID-19. Additionally, we must also comprehensively promote green and sustainable development for world tourism."

"The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the global tourism industry. In order to rebound, it needs us to work together to make," Alexandre de Juniac, Director General & CEO of International Air Transport Association (IATA), said in a subsequent speech. "Flying and traveling both mean freedom. Since people have experienced this freedom, they'll never forget or lose their desire for it. It'll take time, but as long as we work together hand in hand, we'll gradually rebuild our confidence in each other, which will ultimately lead to the successful return of tourism."

Chen Dong, Secretary-General of WTCF and Director-General of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, has released the Action Guide on Recovery and Revitalization of City Tourism amid COVID-19 (Action Guideline). The Action Guide aims to set the basic principles for the recovery and development of urban tourism, through seeking international cooperation and supporting policies for the sector's evolution by stimulating the innovation of products, services and models for the rebound of urban tourism during the pandemic.

The conference also released the Report on Recovery and Development of World Tourism amid COVID-19. The report reviews the responses and recovery measures of the global tourism industry to the pandemic at the national, city and industrial levels. Through a typical case study of 6 countries including Argentina and Spain, 6 cities including Barcelona and 4 relative enterprises including Disney and Marriott, the analysis of recovery strategies and trends for global cities around the world were illuminated for attendees and members' reference.

Focusing on the Revitalization of Tourism and Seeking the New Path to Develop Tourism after the Pandemic

The forum of "Tourism as a Catalyst for the Revitalization of the World Economy" onsite

In the morning, a forum on "Tourism as a Catalyst for the Revitalization of the World Economy" was also held. The participants discussed the interactive relationship between the development of the tourism industry and the revitalization of the global economy. They focused on the effective policies of the government to stimulate the resumption of the tourism industry and the recovery of consumerism. The main strategies of using technological innovation is to fuel transformation of the industry, boost the recovery and reconstruction of the industrial chain, improve employment rates and activate consumption, as well as the effectively drive sustainability in the global economy.

As the organizer of this conference, WTCF, established in 2012 under the initiative of Beijing, is the world's first international tourism organization focusing on cities. Guided by the core vision of Better City Life through Tourism, it constructs a platform for its members to exchange experience, reinforce cooperation and build consensus. The purpose of this conference is to promote the recovery of tourism during this pandemic, make projections for the future of tourism and play a constructive role in reviving the security and success of global tourism through communication and a spirit of sharing.