The 14th UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook was held in Guilin, China from December 7-8, 2020 in a hybrid format under the theme of "Tourism Revitalization and Transformation".
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the tourism industry has been facing an unprecedented disruption that involves international lockdown measures and travel restrictions. This has caused risk to more than 100 million jobs that ranges from small to medium enterprises.
While there remains challenges that are yet to come, the pandemic also provides an opportunity to rethink the tourism sector in the medium to long term and develop strategies to create further resilient local communities through innovation, digitalization, sustainability, and partnerships.
Taking into consideration the current crisis and to promote tourism as a driver of economic and social recovery, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability, the 14th UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook had addressed the theme of “Tourism Revitalisation and Transformation” in its 2020 annual conference.
The event was organized by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and co-organized by the Guilin Municipal People’s Government and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region’s Department of Culture in partnership with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The Guilin Forum provides an annual Pan-Asia-Pacific platform for policy makers, senior officials, researchers and industry representatives to take stock of global & regional trends and to better understand their potential impacts on tourism. The event, under the joint umbrella of the UNWTO and PATA, will allow participants to share information, analyse the current tourism situation and map out the next course of action for the future.
Details of the agenda, photos and presentations can be found below.
AGENDA
DAY 1
December 6, 2020
10:00 - 22:00
Registration
DAY 2
December 7, 2020
18:00 - 19:00
Guilin Culture & Tourism Promotion (Official Welcome Dinner)
19:10 - 19:50
Transfer to Guilin Grand Theatre
20:00 - 21:30
Watching the Opening Ceremony Show of the 10th Guilin International Scenery Culture & Tourism Festival
December 8, 2020
DAY 3
8:30 - 9:10
OPENING CEREMONY
SPEAKERS
ZHAO Leqin, Secretary of Guilin Municipal Committee of the CPC, Director of Standing Committee of Guilin NPC
LI Bin, Vice Chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People’s Government
ZHANG Xu, Vice Minister of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of PRC
Zurab POLOLIKASHVILI, Secretary-General, UNWTO
Mario HARDY, CEO, PATA
Kaye CHON, Dean and Chair Professor, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
9:10 - 9:40
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
A keynote presentation on the recovery of domestic tourism in China, one of the world’s largest domestic markets. While demand for international travel remains subdued, domestic tourism is strengthening recovery in China at a fast pace. What lessons could be drawn from the Chinese experience? What are the expectations regarding the resumption of outbound travel?
MODERATOR
XIAO Honggen, Associate Professor, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
SPEAKER
YANG Jinsong, Director of International Research Institute of China Tourism Academy, China
9:40 - 10:10
COFFEE BREAK & GROUP PHOTO
10:10 - 12:30
PANEL DISCUSSION
A panel session on how to achieve tourism revitalization and transformation in post-pandemic times through innovation, sustainability and responsibility, for a more inclusive and resilient sector.
PANELISTS
Sandra CARVÃO, Chief, Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness, UNWTO
Kaye CHON, Dean and Chair Professor, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Sarah MATHEWS, Group Head of Destination Marketing APAC, Tripadvisor
Kate CHANG, Regional Director of China, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, Beijing, China
Kris VAN GOETHEM, Managing Director, MICE, Leisure & Sport
Guido BRETTSCHNEIDER, CEO, TUI China Travel Co. Ltd | View Presentation Slides (PDF) >
14:00 - 18:00
TECHNICAL TOUR
ROUTE
Reed Flute Cave → Solitary Beauty Peak → Two River For Lake Cruise → Xiaoyao Tower → East West Street
December 9, 2020
DAY 4
OPTION A
Guilin → Yangshuo (Li River Cruise → Ten-Mile Landscape Corridor of Yangshuo → Jiwodu Village → Ruyi Mountain Cable Car → Impression of Liu Sanjie) → Back to Hotel
OPTION B
Guilin → Xing (Lingqu → Bajiaozha Danxia Landform → Zi River lantern Show) → Back to Hotel