Themed with “unity and innovation: reshape global tourism and economy”, the 9th edition of Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) was held in Macao SAR and online on Dec. 9, 2020.

Gao Yunlong, vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) attended the opening ceremony and gave a keynote speech.

Gao said that 2020 was an uneven year in human history due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Chinese people, with the leadership of President Xi Jinping, had won worldwide compliment by successfully coordinating pandemic prevention and control with social economic development, and by being a responsible country in the world.

Chinese private enterprises provided support to many countries and regions to fight the pandemic.

He said that at the moment, global pandemic had not been under effective control yet, and the world economy had undergone recession while an anti-globalization trend rising; Chinese private enterprises would continue working with people and the industrial and commercial circle from all countries in the world to confront the epidemic impact, look out for each other through this difficult spell.

According to Gao, Macao has been working towards a global center of tourism and leisure and has won a special status in the world. The GTEF just promotes the diverse and sustainable economic development.

The theme of his year’s forum also sends a positive signal to rejuvenate global tourism and Macao’s tourism. The forum also brings more opportunities to Macao’s economic development.

Gao put forward three initiatives: adhering to an open-minded and inclusive conception, innovation-driven development and a mutual sharing cooperation.

Under the new developing pattern, China will hold the banner of opening up and cooperation. Tourism economy is a typical open economy. Gao suggested to the GTEF to play the role as a multilateral mechanism to build an exchange and cooperation platform for the world tourism recovery and future high-quality development.

A new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation has sped up at present. And the effect of science and technology in improving social productivity has stood out. Gao suggested that tourism industry should adjust to the digitalization, Internet trend, and intelligent development so as to promote the transformation and upgrading of tourism.

Peace and development remains today’s theme. Different countries have diverse tourism resource and are different developing stages. Sharing experience and promoting concerted cooperation would benefit all.

Gao said that tourism industries in this post-pandemic period of time should learn from each other’ culture, creativity, marketing and positioning and deepen unity and mutual trust so as to grow together.

Qiu Xiaoping, vice chairman of member of the party leadership of ACFIC, along with Ma Jun, director of the communication department of ACFIC, attended the forum.