10th UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook Commenced in Guilin, China

GUILIN, China, Oct. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the People's Government of Guilin of China celebrated between 20-22 October the 10th anniversary of the UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook. The theme of the forum was 'Tourism 10:10 - Looking back to look forward'.

With the collaboration of Polytechnic University of Hong-Kong, a UNWTO Affiliate Member, the Forum has become a conversation platform for policy makers, senior government members and representatives of the travel industry in the North-East Asian subregion. This year there were around 100 representatives who participated in the Forum, including the UNWTO Secretary-General Tabel Rifai, Chief Executive Officer at Pacific Asia Travel Association Mario Hardy, and Dean and Chair Professor of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kaye Chon.

This has been the 10^th year that the Forum was held in Guilin, China. This time it aimed at summarizing the outcomes of the past 9 Forums and be on the outlook for the future development of the travel industry. Great importance was attached to this special 10^th anniversary edition of the Forum. Tourism trends, changes in travel behavior and booking patterns, as well as sustainable-related practices applied to the sector were some of the themes addressed through the discussions.

Following the past tradition of the Forum, the sub-Forum about Guilin was also set up this year. To provide advice for the development of tourism in Guilin, issues related to region-based tourism and targeted poverty alleviation were being discussed by government officers, traveling experts and professionals in the Forum. As a result of building a more global tourist destination, new traveling routes have been introduced in Guilin. The guests of this Forum were guided to investigate the city in two paths and were shown the new cultural landmarks.

After the first observatory of the tourism in China was set up in Yangshuo, Guilin 10 years ago, UNWTO has established more than 20 observatories at traveling destinations around the world. As the Yangshuo Observatory has been acting as a positive example, the 5^th Annual Conference of UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatories in China took place also in Guilin on 20 and 21 October.

Guilin is a renowned tourist destination of all time. It will continue its growth in sustainable tourism taking experience from these two events.