Global Tourism Economy Research Centre opens in Macao

The Global Tourism Economy Research Centre successfully held its inauguration ceremony yesterday (29 October) at the Macau Convention & Exhibition Center.

The Global Tourism Economy Research Centre successfully held its inauguration ceremony yesterday (29 October) at the Macau Convention & Exhibition Center. Over 100 dignitaries, including political leaders from China and the Macao SAR, and business leaders from the tourism and related industries gathered together to witness and celebrate the official establishment of The Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (โ€œthe Centreโ€), marking a great stride forward for Macao and the global tourism industry.

Dignitaries attending the inaugural ceremony included Dr. Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of Macao SAR, Mr. Huang Mengfu, Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Edmund Ho, Vice Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese Peopleโ€™s Political Consultative Conference, Mr. Xu Ze, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Peopleโ€™s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr. Hu Zhengyue, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peopleโ€™s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr. Li Lu, Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Cheong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR, Ms. Wang Ping, President of the Chamber of Tourism if All-China Federation of Industry Commerce, and Ms. Pansy Ho, Chairperson of the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre. Other prestigious guests present include Honorary Advisors of the Research Center, including Mr. Chui Sai Cheong, Mr. Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, Mr. Francis Lui Yiu Tung, Mr. Leong Vai Tac, Dr. Chui Sai Peng, Mr. Sio Chi Wai, Ms. Lo Tak Wah and Mr. Vincent Wolfington.

The tourism industry is playing a pivotal role in the global economy. It is estimated that tourism will contribute a staggering six trillion USD in 2011, equal to 9% of the worldโ€™s GDP, as well as creating 260 million jobs worldwide. With the global economic shift towards Asia, the stable growth of Asia, notably China, will be the impetus for the worldโ€™s economic development. To meet the worldโ€™s needs of analytical insight and research regarding the trends and situations in Asian tourism, the Global Toursim Economy Research Centre is created in Macao.

The decision of the Centre to be headquartered inMacao is only logical, given it is at the forefront of Asiaโ€™s burgeoning tourism economy. Its unique geographic location advantageously allows the Centre to closely follow Asiaโ€™s latest developments in tourism. As an ideal hub of communication, Macao can effectively disseminate the latest updates in Asian tourism to the world, and conversely present to the global tourism industry the most recent trends in Asia. In its own right, Macao had been elevated in international competitiveness thanks to its flourishing tourism industry, cementing Macaoโ€™s position as an โ€œinternational travel and leisure cityโ€.

Strategically based in Macau, the Centre is an independent, non-profit international research organization with a special purview on tourism & travel development in Asia as it relates and contributes to positive and sustainable global economic growth. Attuned to what is happening in the region through research and exchange platforms, the Center will openly share with government bodies andtravel and tourism-related stakeholders how Asiaโ€™s development will positively impact the globe. The Centreโ€™s unique and prescient insight on the tourism economy and its progressive and unique approach to aggregating and analyzing research from global authoritative bodies seeks to deliver solutions and advance ideas that will lead to the sustainable development of travel and tourism, in the region and around the world.

Besides the research, the Centre is actively preparing for the first “Global Tourism Economic Forum” to be held at Macao in mid-2012. As an annual flagship event for the Centre, “Global Tourism Economic Forum” will have the world’s most influential leaders, industry leaders and academics as participants. The Forum will become a high-level platform of dialogue for these luminary figures todiscuss the Asian and Global tourism as well as related economic affairs. The platform serves to line up the tourism industry and related industries to build reciprocally beneficial relationships between governments and industry stakeholders. Sharing their experiences on how tourism can advance the global economy and expectations on future growth, these key industry figures can more effectively contribute to global tourism and economic growth.

As the chairman of the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre, Ms. Pansy Ho expresses tremendous optimism towards the set up of the Centre: โ€œAsia has already become the major growth driver of global tourism. With Macau being a strategically located Asian city, the Research Centre decdicates itself to following closely the development in Asia, in order to deliver cutting-edge research and analyses to its global audience. For The Centre, the key event slated for next year will be the gathering of influential leaders worldwide in Macao, in which these world figures will examine the challenges and opportunities within the global economy as well as tourism industry for Asia and the world.โ€ Ms. Pansy Ho added, โ€œThe Centre will be instrumental in enhancing co-operation between Macao businesses and organizations in promoting tourism. By grasping the opportunitiesahead, the Macau tourism industry will be better equipped in steering and developing diversification, ultimately optimizing and internationalizing the tourism economy.โ€

In addition, Ms. Wang Ping, President of the Chamber of Tourism if All-China Federation of Industry Commerce and Mr. Joรฃo Manuel Costa Antunes, the Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office delivered the speech at inauguration ceremony. Joรฃo Manuel Costa Antunes expressed, Macau welcomed about 20 million visitors for the third quarter of 2011. Tourism is a mainstay of the economy for Macao. In response to the rapid development of tourism, Macau’s tourism industry must be capacity in face of a global tourism and economic situation by fully utilizing Macauโ€™scompetitive advantages. The Centre will able to promote cooperation for the region and industry in order to further enhance the Macauโ€™s tourism industry and other regions competitiveness.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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