Tourism forum opens in Harbin, marking first outside Macau

The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) kicked off in Harbin on Monday, holding its annual summit outside Macau for the first time since its founding in 2012.

The forum, known as the Global Tourism Economy Forum · Heilongjiang 2025, wraps up today and includes a program of exclusive activities in Harbin.

The 11th edition of the forum took place yesterday, featuring keynote speeches, roundtable forums, cultural and tourism exhibitions, and an investment promotion event for Heilongjiang Province.

More than 1,000 guests from over 30 countries and regions across five continents attended the opening ceremony. Participants included the secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, heads of international bodies, government cultural and tourism officials, Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurs, and scholars, according to Harbin TV News Channel.

Edmund Ho Hau-wah, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and forum chairman, delivered opening remarks and described GTEF as a strategic opportunity “to develop new quality productive forces and promote world tourism.”

Anton Tai, Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance and representative for Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai – who was absent from the forum while attending events in Beijing –highlighted Heilongjiang’s abundant natural resources, rich history and culture, and popular winter tourism in his opening remarks.

Tai said, “This year, Heilongjiang and Macau have maintained close personnel exchanges as well as economic and trade relations, showing a positive trend. In March of this year, the two sides also signed a number of cooperation agreements, memorandums of understanding, and other agreements to further strengthen collaboration in various fields, including economy and trade, science and technology, education, culture and tourism, and sports.”

Pansy Ho, vice chairman and secretary-general of the forum, addressed the shift in tourism in her opening remarks, emphasizing the transition from resource-driven to innovation-driven models.

She urged participants to focus on four strategic pillars: industrial innovation, cultural empowerment, investment leadership, and cross-border cooperation. These pillars aim to build “a smart, green, connected, and sustainable global tourism economy,” Ho said.

“We are transitioning from a resource-driven model to an innovation-driven model,” she said. “Just as China is upgrading its industrial base, tourism must evolve from simple volume to high-quality development. ‘New Quality Productive Forces’ implies that we will be pivoting toward a value-driven economy powered by technology, sustainability, and immersive experiences.”

Today, invited guests will attend “National Treasures · Gathering in the Ice City,” an exhibition of overseas cultural relics. A sightseeing project and investment tour will also take place by invitation, offering four routes that showcase Heilongjiang’s winter tourism resources, according to the event’s program.