Seventh UNWTO/PATA Forum Held in Guilin
The Seventh UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook was successfully held in Guilin, China, on 21-23 October 2013. Jointly organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Forum was co-organised by the Guilin Municipal People's Government and the Guangxi Provincial Tourism Bureau, in collaboration with the SHTM at PolyU.
Taking the theme "Tourism Development: New Knowledge, Practices and Challenges", the Forum successfully provided an annual Pan-Asia-Pacific platform from which policymakers, senior officials, researchers and industry executives could share their perspectives, research findings and practices in tourism development.
The technical sessions on the first day covered topics such as "Setting the Scene", "Tourism Research in Support of Policy, Development and Industry Practices", "Issues and Challenges in Tourism Development" and "New Practices and New Development". The opening session on the second day was hosted by Ms Chen Lihua, Vice Mayor of Guilin, and officiated by Mr Márcio Favilla, Executive Director for Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships, UNWTO; Ms Marjorie
Yang, Chairman, PolyU Council; Ms Kate Chang, Regional Director - Greater China, PATA; Mr Wu Wenxue, Vice Chairman, China National Tourism Administration; and Mr Huang Junhua, Mayor of Guilin.
The keynote session that followed, entitled "Tourism Development: New Knowledge, Practices and Challenges", featured Mr Márcio Favilla of the UNWTO speaking about "Visa Facilitation: Stimulating Economic Growth and Development through Tourism"; Mr Scott Meis, Special Advisor, Labour Market
Information and Research, Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, speaking on "Measuring Employment in Tourism Industries beyond the Tourism Satellite Account: Experiences from Canada"; Mr John Koldowski, Special Advisor to the CEO, PATA, delivering a speech on "Measuring What Matters"; Professor Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor, SHTM, speaking on "Innovations and Entrepreneurship in Hospitality and Tourism"; and Professor Dai Bin, President, China Tourism Academy, whose speech covered
"New Problems and New Challenges in China Tourism Development".
The Forum was officially closed on 22 October by Ms Kate Chang of PATA and Ms Chen Lihua, Vice Mayor of Guilin. The SHTM was delighted to support the Forum and considers it vital in bridging the gap between theory and practice. By facilitating the exchange of ideas and the creation of partnerships, the School plays a role in ensuring a sustainable future for the tourism industry in China and
beyond.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
