“China is a powerhouse economy. It will be the main driver of global Travel & Tourism growth in the foreseeable future. The Chinese State Council’s recent Tourism Guidelines give the highest recognition to the industry as a strategic pillar of the national economy.
By holding our 10th Global Travel & Tourism Summit in China, we commend this commitment, while urging other governments to follow suit and demonstrate their recognition of Travel & Tourism’s economic importance, as well as the influence it has on nearly every facet of our lives.”
Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President & CEO,
World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC)
“China is a world class destination and a leader in the tourism industry. China’s recent bold move to upgrade its tourism strategy from sectoral to a state-level national strategy is a leading example for many countries around the world.
Already the world’s fourth most visited destination, by 2020, China is expected to become the leading international tourism destination and the fourth largest outbound market. “
Taleb Rifai, Secretary General,
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
“The travel and tourism industry in China (PRC) will move from strength to strength over the course of the next decade as domestic, inbound and outbound tourists continue to grow substantially. The national and provincial authorities have shown extraordinary commitment to our industry in these uncertain economic times – particularly in investment, infrastructure and product development.
This in turn has prompted a growing response across the region to the needs of visitors from this increasingly influential source market and here the Internet and social media are becoming essential tools for travel research and planning.”
Hiran Cooray, Chairman,
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
