Global Tourism Forum kicks off on Oct 27

Macau will once again host the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) this year, which will take place between October 27 and 29 at The Venetian. This year, around 1,000 representatives from different countries will attend the event.
The theme of GTEF 2014 is “Maritime Silk Road – From Macau We Begin.” In a press conference on Friday, the Forum’s organizing committee revealed the agenda and the guest list.
“The aim of this Forum is to bring experts from other countries to Macau, so they can all be here with us and analyze the global tourism issue, as well as how Macau can develop in that area. Also, because Macau’s infrastructure has improved over the last few years, we can raise the quality of our tourism sector,” said Pansy Ho, vice chairperson and secretary-general of GTEF, during the press conference.
Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) director Helena de Senna Fernandes also pointed out the importance of tourism to Macau’s economic development. “Of course we’ve dealt with several challenges and we hope that Macau, as a platform, can participate in even more international meetings so that we [are] well prepared and have a vision,” she said.
During the Forum this year, the first annual report on tourism trends in Asia will also be released. It is also the first time that countries and cities like Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Dubai, United Emirates, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Greece will be represented.