2021 International Mayor’s Forum on Tourism in Zhengzhou City of China is hold from April 21st to 23rd. Attendees in the opening ceremony are Zhang Xu, vice cultural and tourism minister, Wang Guosheng, secretary of Henan Province party committee, Wang Kai, acting governor, Duan Qiang, chairman of World Tourism Alliance, heads of Cultural Exchange Organization of Presenting China to the World, and ambassadors to China from Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and other countries. Speeches via video are given by Zhu Shanzhong, executive director of UNWTO, Mario Hardy, CEO of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and ambassadors to China from Italy, Croatia, United Arab Emirates and other countries.
When Zhang Xu delivers a speech in the opening ceremony, he says that last year has witnessed an unprecedented challenge for world tourism due to the pandemic. Tourism in every country should consider how to dual with new changes and challenges; innovate new development mode, pump up tourists’ confidence to travel and speed up the recovery of domestic and international market against the backdrop of shocks of Covid-19 to tourism industries, society and economy and corresponding changes of tourism’s market economy, consumption connotation and product supply method.
The theme of the forum is “market prosperity and technological innovation improve competence of Cities’ tourism”. Guests change ideas about the development of world tourism after the pandemic, the improvement of competency of tourism cities, brand shaping, investment cooperation and so on, on the base of which, they offer precious experience of enhancing cooperation, solidarity and assistance so as to promote world tourism recovery.
Wang Kai says in his speech that tourism is an important support of economic development and a bridge to promote civilization, cultural communication and friendship. Currently, International Mayor’s Forum on Tourism is an important platform to push economic development. In the future, Henan province plans to be a significant platform to experience Chinese history and culture and a tourism destination with international influence. It will also construct a new tourism and development structure with cities in the international society and start a new chapter in the cooperation of world tourism cities.
Many sub-forums are also held with themes like the improvement of the competence of international tourism cities and the promotion of tourism investment and cooperation of international cities. There’s also supporting activities like Member's day of World Tourism Alliance and guest inspection.