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10th Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2023 Opens

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10th Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2023 Opens - TRAVELINDEXMacao, Macao SAR, September 21, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Navigating opportunities for tourism recovery and enhancing innovation and cooperation The opening ceremony of the 10th Global Tourism Economy Forum · Macao 2023 (GTEF or the “Forum”) took place at the Galaxy International Convention Center this morning (21 September). Over 1,500 leading figures from the global tourism industry and related sectors are invited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of GTEF together.

Prominent figures officiate the opening ceremony
The guests who attended the opening ceremony of the 10th GTEF include Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Ho Iat Seng; Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of GTEF, Ho Hau Wah; Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili; Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Hu Heping; Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Zheng Xincong; Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Liu Xianfa; Minister of Tourism of Italy, Daniela Garnero Santanchè; Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Qiu Xiaoping; Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Liu Duo; Minister of Tourism of Brazil, Celso Sabino de Oliveira; Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia, Li Baodong; Secretary for Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives, Hussain Niyaaz; Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services of Portugal, Nuno Fazenda; Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, Rosana Morillo; Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, Lei Wai Nong; Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung; Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF, Pansy Ho; Former Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China, Former Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Long Yongtu; Chairman of the World Tourism Alliance and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Zhang Xu; Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the International Mountain Tourism Alliance and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, He Yafei, and President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Travel and Tourism Council and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Julia Simpson.

Themed as “Destination 2030: Unlocking the Power of Tourism for Business and Development”, GTEF 2023 keeps abreast of new trends within the context of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Gathering high officials, ministers of culture, tourism and other related sectors, industry leaders, decision-makers and scholars from around the world, the event navigates opportunities for recovery of the global tourism economy by “thinking beyond tourism”. Participants will discuss new ways of constructing a resilient, high-quality and people-oriented environment for the tourism industry in the new normal through innovative and sustainable international cooperation.

Guests deliver address at GTEF’s 10th anniversary
Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of GTEF, Ho Hau Wah, indicated in his welcome speech that at this new juncture, GTEF shoulders the mission to rally the global cultural tourism industry here in Macao to facilitate high-quality cultural tourism development and contribute to sustainable tourism development worldwide.

Secretary-General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, underscored in his opening speech, “The Global Tourism Economy Forum is set to be the premier platform for cooperation between Governments and the private sector in the area of tourism for development. By creating the ‘Davos of Tourism’, we can shape the course of the sector’s future around the pillars of jobs, education, innovation and investments.”

Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Hu Heping, stated in his congratulatory speech that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism hopes to capitalize on the 10th GTEF to join hands with different countries to create a more open and inclusive environment for tourism development, continuously promote the further opening up of the tourism sector, make steady progress in facilitating people-to-people exchange, and keep improving inbound travel services. Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, Lei Wai Nong, delivered remarks on behalf of Macao as the host city at the opening ceremony. He expressed that as the global economy is on track for recovery and resurgence, it is especially meaningful for Macao to organize GTEF once again and celebrate its 10th anniversary. The Forum seeks to contribute to the development of the national and global tourism economy. It is also an occasion to share with members of the global tourism and related industries Macao’s steady progress towards resumption of tourism and economic activities, as well as the city’s comprehensive capabilities to organize conventions and exhibitions as the “Best Convention City (in Asia).” It also revealed that the tourism economy is an essential component in the progress towards recovery and sustainable development. Minister of Tourism of Italy, Daniela Garnero Santanchè, delivered a speech on behalf of Italy as the Partner Country of GTEF. She said, “I am proud to be here to represent my country, Italy. We, the Italians, live in a small country, but full of timeless, unique and unforgettable beauties and traditions. We are home to 58 UNESCO World Heritage sites and represent one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. We invite you all to use this special edition of the Forum to emphasize the valuable role of tourism in fostering cultural, social, and economic exchanges and synergies. Tourism is crucial to spread the values of peace and friendship among people from all over the world and is crucial to achieving the sustainable development goals.” Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Qiu Xiaoping, gave a congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony. He pointed out that over the past decade, GTEF has effectively functioned as a bridge that connects China’s tourism industry with its foreign counterparts, facilitating international exchanges and cooperation in the cultural tourism industry. It has not only become an important platform conducive to the sustainable development of the global tourism economy but has also made notable contributions to the Macao SAR’s economic diversification. The world is now at a time of unprecedented change, which places higher demands on the tourism industry: first, optimize the development environment and enhance the confidence of enterprises and consumers; second, reshape services and accelerate high-quality tourism development; third, strengthen international exchanges and promote win-win cooperation.

Representative of GTEF Featured City Shanghai and Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Liu Duo, remarked in her speech that looking into the future, Shanghai will further enhance communication and pragmatic cooperation with Macao for elevated synergistic development, and strengthen exchanges, mutual learning, communication and collaboration with the rest of the world for the sustainable development of the tourism industry, so as to boost economic growth and benefit people of all nations. Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony include Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Peter Semone; President of the China Chamber of Tourism, Ji Xiaodong; Deputy Secretary-General of the World Tourism Cities Federation, Yan Han; Executive Director of the European Travel Commission and Honorary Vice Chairman of GTEF, Eduardo Santander; President of the Macau Chinese Enterprises Association and Chairman of the Board of Nam Kwong (Group) Company Limited, Fu Jianguo, together with representatives of the GTEF’s leading partners and other personages.

Keynote speeches deliver visions for the tourism industry
During the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF, Pansy Ho, delivered a setting-the-scene keynote speech on “Charting a Visionary Path: Unlocking Tourism’s Potential at the Global Tourism Economy Forum”. Then Former Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China, Former Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Long Yongtu, made a keynote speech on “China & the World Towards a New Vision”, followed by a keynote speech on “Collaboration for Prosperity and Development” by President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Travel and Tourism Council and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Julia Simpson.

Diverse sessions inspire new ideas
The 10th GTEF features Italy as its Partner Country and Shanghai as the Featured City, which will unleash the potential of mutual cooperation between travel markets in China and the rest of the world. In addition to discussions and keynote speeches, the program features special interviews, case studies and casual fireside dialogues as a new highlight, with the aim to inject new ideas and momentum into the robust development of the global tourism economy, so that different destinations around the world can gain value from new opportunities and create better lives.

For more information about the GTEF, please visit www.gte-forum.com

About the Global Tourism Economy Forum
The “Global Tourism Economy Forum” (GTEF) is hosted by the Secretariat for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government, in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), co-organized by the China Chamber of Tourism and Macao Government Tourism Office, and coordinated by the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC). The GTEF’s supporting units include the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), European Travel Commission (ETC), The Association of Chinese Enterprises in Macao (MCEA), World Tourism Alliance (WTA) and International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA). Since its inception in 2012, the GTEF has successfully established itself as an influential high-level cooperation platform to promote sustainable development in the global tourism industry with a focus on China. To date, the GTEF has received more than 12,700 participants from 90 countries and regions, including delegations from 152 provinces and cities of mainland China, and has invited 600 internationally renowned speakers who are national ministerial officials, business leaders, and experts and scholars to share their insights during the event.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ITB China Announces Comeback as In-Person Event

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ITB China Announces Comeback as In-Person Event - TRAVELINDEX - TRAVELNEWSHUBShanghai, China, January 20, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / ITB China, the leading B2B exclusive travel trade show focusing on the Chinese travel market, announces its comeback as a live event. The show will once more bring together top-level buyers from China – the world’s biggest source market for international travel, together with global travel suppliers at its traditional location, the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, between 12 and 14 September 2023.

“The immense Chinese travel market has significant pent-up demand that finally has a chance to meet supply. 2023 will see the emergence of new leaders, new collaborations, and new alliances. I’m happy that we will be integral part of this process, creating networking opportunities and facilitating face-to-face exchange with key players of the industry at this year’s physical event,” said David Axiotis, General Manager of Messe Berlin (Shanghai), the organizer of ITB China.

2023 is bound to be a crucial year for the return of China’s outbound travel market, as the government lifted the quarantine regulations for international travelers on January 8. The consumers responded to the news with skyrocketing web searches and bookings for international destinations, flights, and visa application appointments.

Trip.com Group’s leading Chinese language platform Ctrip, reported a tenfold year-on-year increase in the search volume of popular overseas destinations shortly after the news was released, with searches for outbound flight tickets reaching a three-year high.

“Over the last three years, Trip.com Group has adhered to our ‘local focus, global vision’ strategy, and expanded our globalisation efforts. We are looking forward to the return of ITB China, and hope to meet with our global partners this September in Shanghai to summarise the experience of the Chinese consumer and explore broader cooperation,” says Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group.

The positive signals have prompted Chinese travel companies and agencies to immediately revitalize their outbound travel departments in anticipation of booming business in the very near future. The ITB China Travel Trends Report 2022/2023 released in December 2022 indicated strong optimism within the industry as one of the key trends and the ability to swiftly recover once borders open up again.

Travel data from Tongcheng Travel seems to support this optimistic outlook, as Chinese travelers booked international flights to more than 100 cities in 53 overseas destinations on January 8 alone.

As the race for market shares has commenced on both sides of the aisle, key players in the Chinese travel industry recognize the importance of networking and collaboration opportunities provided by ITB China.

“The new measures accelerated the recovery of the travel market in China, there is no doubt that travel demand will rebound. We need to plan ahead, update the contacts and rebuild the partnerships with global travel suppliers quickly. We are looking forward to establishing more overseas cooperation and explore more diversified, new, and unique travel products at this year’s ITB China.” says Zhang Lei, Senior Vice President of Utour Group Co.,Ltd

ITB China provides a highly efficient and productive platform for industry professionals, with personalized matchmaking, ample networking opportunities and first-hand information from major market players about latest industry trends. Early-bird exhibitors who book their stands before 15 March will get 10% discount on their stand order. Learn more about your participation options here.

About ITB China
ITB China 2023 will take place from 12 to 14 September in Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. ITB China is the leading B2B exclusive travel trade show focusing on the Chinese travel market, bringing together hand selected top-buyers with industry professionals from all over the world. The show provides various networking events and a unique state-of-the-art matchmaking system to maximize business opportunities. The ITB China Conference takes place in parallel with the show and is co-organized by the leading conference organizer TravelDaily.

About ITB global brand family
For more than 50 years the name ITB has stood worldwide for industry knowledge 365 days a year, networking and trendsetting events, whether in a virtual, in-person or hybrid format. ITB China follows the global trend of leading trade shows returning to their pre-pandemic offline modes and locations in 2023, including the other offspring of the ITB brand family. ITB Asia in Singapore, which takes the broader regional market into scope, returned as an in-person show last year and will be held again in Singapore from 25- 27 October 2023. ITB Berlin, the world’s leading B2B trade show for the travel industry, is coming back in March, 7 to 9, and ITB India Conference and Exhibition is scheduled for 26- 28 April in Mumbai.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ITB China Industry MeetUp Kicks Off with Twenty Destinations

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ITB China Industry MeetUp Kicks Off with Twenty Destinations - DESTINATIONCHINA.org - TRAVELINDEXShanghai, China, September 16, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / As the bridge for the global travel market to China, ITB China is once again offering a first-class event for China’s travel trade community with the ITB China Industry MeetUp (IMU), which will be held both online and offline from 14 – 28 September 2022. The event starts on 14 September with the launch of its virtual platform, which will run until 28 September, and features a physical networking event with branded sponsor booths and tables on 21 September at the Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai. The IMU brings together 50 sponsors from over 20 countries and regions promoting selected contents and activities through their event-exclusive mini-sites to buyers from across China, while all onsite and online sessions will be live-streamed and made available on demand for global audiences.

High demand from industry sponsors sets tone for the exclusive event

The organizers of the IMU see strong sponsor participation from international destinations such as AlUla, Austria, California, Catalonia, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Hawaii, Hiroshima, Ireland, Israel, Los Angeles, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sarawak, Spain, Tahiti, Taipei, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland together with Graubünden, Laax and Zurich.

The event also welcomes hotels and resorts as sponsors including Kerry Hotel Pudong Shanghai, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, WebBeds, Hemisphere Corporation Sdn Bhd, Imperial Hotel Kuching and Melia Hotels International.

In addition, the IMU event confirms other key travel & tourism organizations and companies as sponsors, including the European Travel Commission, Borneo Adventure Sdn Bhd, Brighton Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd, Collinson, ChinaTravelHub, DEHUA GmbH, Innosar Holiday Sdn Bhd, Ireland China International Travel Services Ltd, Kildare Village, One Wayang Tours Sdn Bhd, Rachel Sunshine International Ltd, Schilthorn Cableway Ltd, Swiss Travel System, Touching Travel, World Animal Protection, ZHANGJIANG SCIENCE HALL and ZU snowboard school.

Interactive engagement of key market players from across China

The customized sponsor mini-sites enable all event sponsors to promote and highlight selected products, news, events, surveys and market activities to hundreds of Chinese buyers online from all over China, more than half of whom are C-level executives and final decision makers of leading travel agencies, who will actively interact and engage with their contents.

“The experience and insights of foreign travel companies in resuming international travel business are very important for our own planning and future business outlook. We look forward to the exchange of information and ideas with all attending NTOs and travel suppliers and expect to gain deeper market insights at this year’s ITB China Industry MeetUp event,” said Mr. Feng Bin, President of U-tour, China’s most influential travel agency for international travel business.

Acclaimed travel experts report on the hottest topics in the travel industry

More than 30 online content sessions on six topics will be hosted between 14 to 28 September, offering valuable guidance on maintaining industry competitiveness and develop business in the post-pandemic era.
Sessions and topics:

14 September: “Learnings from International Travel Rebound”

15 September: “Next big thing in MICE”, in partnership with China BT MICE

19 September: “Ecological travel & sustainable tourism”

23 September: “New Media, New Technology, New Scenario, New Demand”, in partnership with TravelDaily

26 September: “Cross-industry travel product development”

28 September: “The adaptability of hotels in a highly volatile environment”, in partnership with The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)

Meet face-to-face in Shanghai

The exclusive in-person event on 21 September in the Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai, offers direct on-site exchange at branded sponsor booths and tables with additional networking opportunities to connect with high-level market players, while all speeches and discussions in the presentation studio will be livestreamed to a global audience. The day will be rounded off with a VIP networking dinner for selected top-level participants powered by Experience AlUla, a Saudi Arabian destination represented at the event for the first time.

A look at new challenges and opportunities for the industry

The ITB China Travel Trends Report 2022, prepared by ITB China, examines the latest travel demands and upcoming developments in the Chinese and global travel markets. It provides the industry with valuable information that will help strategists and decision makers to adjust business operations by gaining first-hand insights into market trends in a fast-changing environment.

A comprehensive survey among senior and top-level representatives of nearly 80 international destinations and travel suppliers was conducted in the run-up of the IMU, reflecting the current perception of the recovery status of the global travel industry. Another travel trends survey targeting Chinese buyers will be launched during the event, collecting opinions and estimating on the current travel market in China and its readiness to resume international travel when restrictions are further lifted.

The results of the surveys and the final analysis of expert contributions during the MeetUp will be incorporated into the ITB China Travel Trends Reports 2022. The report will be published after the conclusion of the entire event.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ITB China Announces the Maldives as Official Island Travel Partner

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ITB China Announces the Maldives as Official Island Travel Partner

Shanghai, China, October 20, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Maldives was one of the first countries to open borders for international travellers last year amidst the pandemic. In 2021 they will be the Official Island Travel Partner for the upcoming ITB China, set to take place from 24 – 26 November as a physical event in Shanghai, with a virtual extension from early November until the end of December. The independent island nation in the northern Indian Ocean will participate in China’s B2B travel trade show with its own Maldives pavilion to showcase its tropical islands and discuss business prospects with Chinese buyers to increase bookings and arrivals from China to the Maldives once travel restrictions are lifted.

• Discover Island Partner Maldives at VisitMaldives.org, the Sunny Paradise Islands, go to VisitMaldives.org

Recovering well from the negative effects of the pandemic

Following the implementation of strict policies and measures for the safety of visitors, the Maldives opened their borders in mid-July 2020 and since then the arrival figures have been promising. By the end of 2020 they were able to achieve 33% of the total arrivals achieved in 2019. During the first six months of 2021, they have achieved 62% year on year, in comparison to arrivals in the same period of 2019.

China being one of Maldives’ top markets prior to the pandemic

“As China has been one of our biggest source markets in the past, it is a priority to maintain the destination presence in China. We are constantly holding activities and digital marketing campaigns and participate in minor and major events of the travel trade industry,” said Mr Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation. “ITB China is China’s leading travel trade show and we are excited to promote our destination at this prestigious event and work towards regaining the market share we had in China before the pandemic. During ITB China 2021, we hope to assure our travellers that the Maldives is the safest destination to travel post pandemic, after travel restrictions are eased. ITB China provides us with a perfect opportunity to meet travel trade partners from China and beyond, to re-familiarize them with our unique products and experiences. We look forward to an exciting event and towards building lasting relationships and networking with stakeholders from China, to establish mutually beneficial partnerships.”

The Maldives offer a wide array of options for tourists from all segments.

There are customized packages in resorts, hotels, guesthouses and liveaboards for either high end or budget travellers. Since the island nation introduced guesthouse concept in 2010, there is a positive trend in non-luxury travellers visiting Maldives on a budget.

• Discover Island Partner Maldives at VisitMaldives.org, the Sunny Paradise Islands, go to VisitMaldives.org

About ITB China and the ITB China Conference
ITB China 2021 will take place from Wednesday to Friday, 24 to 26 Nov, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre. In addition to the physical event, ITB China 2021 Virtual will be held from 8 November to 31 December 2021. ITB China is a business-to-business travel trade platform that focuses exclusively on the Chinese travel industry. The ITB China Conference will take place parallel with the show and is co-organized by the leading travel conference organizer TravelDaily.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ITB China to Take Place as Physical Event in Shanghai 24-26 Nov 2021

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ITB China to Take Place as Physical Event in Shanghai 24-26 Nov 2021

Shanghai, China, June 29, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / With travel and tourism within China bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels, ITB China, the largest B2B exclusive travel trade show in China, is set as in-person event at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre from 24 – 26 November 2021, with its virtual extension from 8 November until 31 December 2021. Witnessing the positive development of travel markets and vaccine promotion in China and around the world, expectations for the return of international travel are steadily increasing. This fall the marketplace for China’s travel industry picks up the thread and will deliver an innovative hybrid showcase for travel products and an important B2B meeting place for the travel industry.

David Axiotis, General Manager of ITB China, on the new event concept: “In these dynamic times the combination of a physical event and a virtual platform is indispensable and offers our customers maximum planning security. ITB China 2021 will support global travel companies and suppliers with comprehensive and flexible solutions – both offline and online – to re-engage the Chinese market in a unique and hybrid format and actively boost the recovery of the industry. Adding to the face-to-face meetings and in-person experience, the virtual extension of ITB China 2021 will bring extra value by providing even more meeting and networking opportunities for both physically and virtually participating exhibitors”.

Physical exhibitors are benefiting from on-site prescheduled appointments with high-quality buyers and a complimentary virtual booth package as part of their attendance. Exhibitors who opt for a purely virtual attendance will enjoy a comprehensive digital presence including options to get in touch and meet the same quality buyers and travel professionals from all over China online via the virtual booth.

To ensure consistent corporate brand exposure, multiple related booths are combined as virtual pavilions under one company brand page, while XXL-Pavilion packages, especially designed for destination marketing organisations and corporate groups, include additional highlight and showcasing features for enhanced impact. Exhibitors can choose to add prescheduled buyer group meetings to their virtual booth package, exclusively available on the ITB China virtual platform, to maximize business opportunities in the digital realm. Suppliers who simply want to display their company portofolio online to all buyers and trade visitors of ITB China Virtual, but without the comprehensive functionality and brand presence of a virtual booth, can do so with a free virtual listing.

Features of the virtual platform include among others: Extensive presentation of detailed company and product information, access to a wide selection of ITB China recommended buyers that match the exhibitor’s business portfolio and buyer’s interests, various communication functions such as instant text-messaging, self-arranged meeting scheduling and video calls, e-business cards exchange, and convenient one-click-compiling as well as downloading of business contacts. Online presentation sessions and prescheduled online meetings for registered exhibitors and buyers will commence as early as 8 Nov, the kick-off date of ITB China Virtual. All offers and functions of the virtual platform will be maintained from that date until 31 Dec 2021.

As the leading Chinese travel think tank, the concurrent ITB China Conference 2021 will be organised by China’s leading travel trade media and travel conference organizer TravelDaily featuring a strong program of keynotes and panel discussions, streamed live with Chinese and English subtitles and available as videos on demand on the ITB China Virtual platform.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News