Delegation of China business leaders visits the European Union ahead of October’s Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao.

Brussels, 24th April

On 23rd April ETC had the pleasure of hosting a high-level delegation of China business leaders at its headquarters in Brussels. The visit, coordinated by the Global Tourism Economic Forum (GTEF), in cooperation with the China Chamber of Tourism and the China Women’s Chamber of Commerce brought a delegation of over 25 of China’s most influential personalities in the Travel and Tourism industry to various destinations across the European Union, the partner region for GTEF 2018.

Under the theme of “Strategic Partnership in a New Era, Rising Momentum for a Shared Future,” the delegation’s visit to the EU aims to grow networks, build partnerships, share insights, and deepen the foundations of Sino-European tourism cooperation through bilateral trade meetings, business matching, workshops, and the like.

The delegation was headed by Ms. Pansy Ho, Group Executive Chair and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Ltd., Chair of the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre and Secretary General and Vice-Chair of GTEF. Also participating as part of the delegation were Ms. Wang Ping, Chair of China Chamber of Tourism and Vice-Chair of GTEF, as well as Ms. Liu Ting, Chair of Asia Link Group Inc. and Sungari Group.

The delegates first arrived at the European Commission, meeting with Ms. Anna Athanasopoulou, Head of Unit Tourism, Emerging and Creative Industries, followed by a group meeting at ETC’s headquarters with the participation of the Belgian Travel Organisation (BTO), the Association of Belgian Tour Operators (ABTO), the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (BCECC), the European Travel Agents and Tour Operators’ Association and the European Tourism Association (ETOA). The members of the delegation had the opportunity to present GTEF 2018 and to discuss further EU-China collaboration with the Belgium-based tourism organisations present at the meeting.

To conclude their stay in Brussels, the delegates met with H.E. Mr. Zhang Ming, Chinese Ambassador to the European Union as well as with the Chairman of Tourism Task Force, Mr. Istvan Ujhely from the European Parliament.

GTEF, official partner of the EU-China Tourism Year 2018 will take place in Macao from the 23rd -24th October and will gather world leaders and industry experts to promote Europe’s immense collective offerings to China and increase tourism flows between the two through keynote and panel sessions, workshops, bilateral meetings and a host of cultural activities.