On 20 June 2017, ASEAN-China Quality and Sustainable Tourism Development Conference & ASEAN Tourism Photo Exhibition was successfully organized by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), supported by ASEAN Secretariat and China National Travel Magazine in Beijing.
H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ACC, H.E Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana, Ambassador of the Philippines in Beijing, H.E. Madam Alma Rita Jimenez, Undersecretary of the Philippines Department of Tourism, Mr. Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei and Chairman of Visit ASEAN@50, Mr. Sun Bo, Deputy Director-General of Marketing and International Cooperation Department of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Mr. Zhang Min, Senior Director of China Tourism Association (CTA), attended the meeting and delivered remarks. Nearly 100 participants from ASEAN and China tourism authorities, representatives from all ASEAN Embassies in Beijing, ASEAN Secretariat, travel agencies, tourism stakeholders, tourism institutes and media attended the event.
Secretary-General Yang Xiuping extended a warm welcome to all participants. She cited that tourism cooperation is an important part of cultural exchanges, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN countries and China, which has played an important role in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the public from both sides and achieved fruitful results and has long been a highlight of ASEAN-China relations. It was gratifying to see that in 2016, the number of bilateral visits between ASEAN countries and China topped 31.8 million. The year 2017 is very important as it marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation. It is also designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Today’s conference & exhibition was part of a series of activities organized by ACC to highlight the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation. It is aimed to serve as a platform to share best practices, knowledge and experience on quality and sustainable tourism development in ASEAN and China and to make new contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative.
Ambassador Romana said that the number of bilateral visits from ASEAN and China has increased rapidly. In 2016, there were over 670,000 Chinese tourists to the Philippines with an increase of 11%. In the first quarter of 2017, the increase of Chinese tourists to the Philippines has been over 30%, making great contribution to the economic development of the country. At the same time, there is also impact on the local environment. The outcome of this conference would not only add to the growing literature of solutions and policies on ways to achieve quality and sustainable tourism development, but also customize solutions to address the specific challenges being experienced in Southeast Asia and China.
Mr. Sun Bo said that China and ASEAN are important source of tourists and tourist destinations to each other. It is significant to enhance the bilateral tourism cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, aiming to boost tourism growth and all-round development of the economy and society. ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation is the first multilateral tourism cooperation year being co-organized by China and regional international organizations, which is another important milestone in the development of our cultural and people-to-people exchanges. It has great significance and profound influence. On 16 March 2017, the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation was successfully held in Manila. CNTA would make full use of the positive effects of the opening ceremony to work closely with the ASEAN side to plan and organize various events within the framework of the Year.
Mr. Wardi gave a comprehensive account of the overall objectives, activities, ideas and related initiatives of the ASEAN 50th anniversary campaign in his speech. He said that the campaign aims to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN, and to promote ASEAN as a single tourism destination, to achieve the growth of tourist arrivals to ASEAN and ultimately inject tourism revenue to this region. Enhancing tourism quality and promoting sustainable tourism development is the key aspect of ASEAN tourism cooperation promotion. ASEAN Member States wishes to continue to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly promote the sustainable tourism development of both sides.
Undersecretary Jimenez said that ASEAN countries are rich in tourism resources and have great potential for development. Tourism has played an important role in promoting economic development. ASEAN is committed to achieving inclusive and sustainable tourism development and hopes to deepen cooperation in relevant areas with China. The Belt and Road Initiative will effectively promote the interconnection of ASEAN region, and contribute to the development of ASEAN Tourism. She hoped that ASEAN and China would jointly make greater efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable tourism development.
Director Zhang Min introduced the development of China's tourism market. He said that China's tourism market has entered a period of rapid development and tourism has become an important highlight in driving China's economic development. China has formulated a strategic plan for tourism development to establish a tourism power. He hoped that both ASEAN and China should seize the opportunity to continuously upgrade the level of tourism cooperation.
In the subsequent panel discussion section, Senior Officer Mr. Eddy from ASEAN Secretariat and relevant tourism officials, tourism practitioners, tourism experts, etc. from both sides carried out constructive discussions on enhancing tourism quality and promoting sustainable tourism development, and put forward opinions and suggestions from their respective perspectives. It’s agreed that ASEAN and China enjoy broad prospects for tourism cooperation, and the two sides should grasp the new characteristics of the rapidly developing tourism markets and find new ways to promote tourism quality and sustainable development in order to inject new vitality to bilateral cooperation in tourism development.
During the event, the participants also appreciated the ASEAN Tourism Photo Exhibition, which was composed of 60 high-resolution ASEAN tourism images provided by China National Tourism Magazine. The exhibition fully demonstrated the unique charm of the natural scenery and cultural atmosphere of ASEAN Member States.