On December 12th, Hong Kong International Tourism Forum kicked off in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC). Attending the forum are Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Yu Qun, a member of the leadership of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Tan Junrong, director of the Social and Cultural Department of Macao Special Administrative Region Government and Xu Ruisheng, vice-governor of Guangdong People’s Government. Representatives of tourism departments, institutions and offices in Hong Kong from 47 countries, including Lao, Myanmar, Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Jordan, have also attended the major activities of the Forum.
“The year of 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up. Against the backdrop of this, it is of great importance to hold Hong Kong International Tourism Forum and discuss international tourism cooperation.” said Yu Qun in his opening remarks. He also reviewed the course of tourism development, and introduced the tourism exchanges with countries and regions along with Belt and Road as well as tourism achievements of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the same time, he laid out future plan for the integrated development of Chinese culture and tourism, and spoke highly of Hong Kong’s role in advancing national tourism development and promoting international tourism cooperation. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism will continue to support t Hong Kong’s engagement in the construction of “Belt and Road Intuitive” and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, thus promoting cultural and tourism exchanges with Belt and Road countries and regions, and .strengthening mutual learning and exchanges between the Chinese civilization and other civilizations.
The forum themed as “Belt and Road Initiative” and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area construction was co-hosted by HKSAR, Hong Kong Tourism Board and The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong. Attending the forum were representatives of tourism departments, businessmen, experts and scholars from Hong Kong, Macao,mainland and overseas, as well as consul generals to Hong Kong and press representatives.
During the forum, working meetings respectively took place between Yu Qun and Zhu Shanzhong, executive director of World Tourism Organization(UNWTO), and Bosengkham Vongdara, Lao’s minister of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.