The Tourism Federation of Cities in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area convenes the second Annual Meeting in Hong Kong
The Tourism Federation of Cities in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area (referred to as the “Federation”) convened the second Annual Meeting in Hong Kong today (12 June) to forge the collaborative initiatives of the year. Member entities keenly expressed their views on the prospect of tourism development across the Greater Bay Area, followed by comprehensive discussions. Deputy Director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Cheng Wai Tong, attended the meeting with the team.
Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, Wang Yiyang, Deputy Director General of Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, Wu Qingsong, Commissioner for Tourism of the Tourism Commission of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Joe Wong, MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong, Head of Communication and External Relations Department of MGTO, Kathy Iong, and Head of Marketing Division of MGTO, Cora Vong, attended the meeting together with senior tourism officials of the other eight Guangdong cities including Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing. The Rotating Chairman entity of 2018, Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau presented an overview of the work progress since the inception of the Federation. Following that, the Tourism Commission of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region elaborated on the work scheme of 2019 as the new Rotating Chairman entity of the year.
Summary of work progress
In concluding the work progress in 2018, Deputy Director General of Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, Wu Qingsong, stated that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area stands as one of the Country’s most economically-vibrant and open regions. Its tourism and economic development demonstrates a leading scale in the Country. Over the last year, the brand of multi-destination tourism won wide recognition among visitors at home and abroad, while the cultural and leisure destination image of the Greater Bay Area was effectively built. The tourism prospect of the Greater Bay Area remains in an upward trend. The major tasks unfolded last year include: 1) successfully convened the first General Membership Meeting; 2) enhanced the cooperative and exchange mechanism; 3) carried out joint promotions; 4) continuously deepened cooperation between markets; 5) jointly built accessible tourism districts; 6) strengthened cultural exchange and cooperation between Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao.
Discussion on future projects
Representative of the new Rotating Chairman entity of the year, Commissioner for Tourism of the Tourism Commission of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Joe Wong, joined other members to discuss the work scheme of 2019 and confirm a range of key initiatives of the year including: 1) provide greater convenience for visitors in terms of connectivity across the Greater Bay Area; 2) strengthen cooperation on market regulation; 3) enhance cooperation on destination promotion; 4) support industry operators to develop more tourism products.
Macao actively participates in Greater Bay Area tourism development
During the meeting, MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong delivered remarks on the major tasks MGTO carries out this year to engage in and push forward tourism development across the Greater Bay Area, which cover four areas as follows: 1) promote multi-destination travel itineraries and jointly tap into international tourism markets; 2) expedite tourism integration with Hengqin and explore island tourism; 3) leverage the opportunities brought by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge for strategic integration of tourism resources in the Greater Bay Area; 4) Continuously optimize tourism quality and support the building of the Greater Bay Area tourism education and training base.
Other specific tasks that are planned or currently conducted include: organize a series of multi-destination familiarization visits to the Greater Bay Area; invite an online tourism influencer from Singapore to visit eleven cities in the Greater Bay Area in June for social media coverage and promotion, followed by a joint tourism promotional event to be organized in Singapore in July with tourism authorities of other member cities to encourage multi-destination travel to the Greater Bay Area; organize a Greater-Bay-Area tourism promotion in Los Angeles, United States, with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong Tourism Board in September; set up joint booths in various major travel fairs; as well as leverage other cooperative platforms to carry out strategic promotions with various member cities of the Greater Bay Area.
Established in December 2017, the Tourism Federation of Cities in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area convened the first General Membership Meeting in Guangzhou in April 2018. Various member cities are actively engaged in the work concerned to steer the tourism development of the Greater Bay Area forward. Corresponding with the Articles and Agreement of the Tourism Federation of Cities in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area, MGTO will remain keenly committed and supportive to the work of the Federation. Upholding the principle of “concerted development, joint branding and market sharing”, the Office will work closely with other member entities to jointly build a world-class travel destination.
