Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra on stage during welcome dinner
The Global Tourism Economy Forum • Macau 2015 (“GTEF” or “the Forum”) was unveiled solemnly this morning (12 October). As the host of the Forum, the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government specially hosted a grand welcome dinner at Grand Hyatt Macau, City of Dreams tonight as a warm reception for the Forum guests from the Mainland and around the world, and to extend wishes that the discussions tomorrow will generate a wealth of innovative ideas to foster global tourism cooperation. Various prestigious guests marked their presence in the welcome dinner including Mr. Ho Hau Wah, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Forum Chairman of GTEF; Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Honorary Chairman of GTEF; Mr. Li Jinzao, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and Honorary Chairman of GTEF; Mr. Zang Xianfu, Chairman of Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Mr. Wang Huizhong, Deputy Secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China; Mr. Sun Wenyou, Vice Chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Ms. Sandra Howard Taylor, Vice Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Colombia; Mr. Chen Yixing, Vice Chairman of Fujian Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Mr. Yao Jian, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Mr. Cai Siping, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR; Mr. Leong Vai Tac, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government; Mr. Wang Shangkang, Director of Department of Publicity and Education, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC); Mr. Alejandro Schiavi, Undersecretary of Coordination, Ministry of Tourism, Argentina; Ms. Pansy Ho, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF; Mr. Xu Jing, Executive Secretary of the General Assembly and the Executive Council of UNWTO, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at UNWTO as well as Honorary Vice Chairman of GTEF; Mr. David Scowsill, President and Chief Executive Officer of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Honorary Chairman of GTEF as well as Mr. Kevin Murphy, Chairman of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Honorary Vice Chairman of GTEF, among others. Dr. Alexis Tam, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, stated in his welcome speech that, since its inauguration in 2012, the Global Tourism Economy Forum has become a significant event for fostering greater networking for top-level tourism leaders and joint research work for development of tourism trends. It also serves as an influential platform for the exploration of major challenges, risks and opportunities for tourism development. This year, the Forum will address key issues relating to the synergy effects from culture and tourism. He added that though Macao is a small city, it is blessed with a ‘east-meets-west’ legacy which has long inspired the city to play a pivotal role in the regional development of tourism industry. With proper site protection, preservation and management, Macao’s cultural heritage is also a core element that fosters tourism development in Macao. The Macao SAR Government will continue generating new momentums to develop Macao as an international tourist destination. Building on the city’s own strengths, the government will work together with stakeholders in the industry on providing more sightseeing attractions and pleasure for visitors. Secretary Tam hopes that this Forum will once again be an event where new alliance is built, new influence is developed and new course of tourism trend is charted. To showcase the cultural vibrancy of the Belt and Road countries, the dinner was decorated with magnificent and melodic performance by Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra from Zhejiang Province, the Forum’s Featured Province. The fourth edition of GTEF will continue its comprehensive program tomorrow (13 October) with a range of in-depth topical panels scheduled. There will also be business matching and networking programs, providing ample opportunities for Forum attendees to exchange ideas and explore new possibilities for tourism business cooperation.
