12th Global Tourism Economy Forum • Macao 2026 Announces Key Speakers and Agenda Highlights

Crisis • Resilience • Evolution — Building a Tourism Economy for a Shared Future

MACAO, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 12^th Global Tourism Economy Forum • Macao 2026, scheduled for 15 to 17 October, officially announced today a selection of core speakers and key agenda highlights for this year's edition. Under the theme "Crisis • Resilience • Evolution — Building a Tourism Economy for a Shared Future", the Forum convenes political and business leaders, academia elites, and international organization representatives from across five continents to jointly explore the path toward reshaping the tourism economy and achieving sustainable development. This year's agenda introduces four major new highlights:

Global Thought Leadership: Shaping the Future Tourism Economy

The Forum invites Professor Jeffrey D. SACHS, world-renowned economics professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, to deliver a keynote speech. Drawing on his 30,000-kilometre "Marco Polo Drive of Peace, Culture and Sustainable Development" across Eurasia, he will examine tourism's unique role as a bridge for cross-cultural exchange and a powerful argument for peace. LONG Yongtu, former lead negotiator for China's WTO accession, former Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia, and Honorary Chairman of the Forum, will also deliver a keynote speech to analyze China's inclusive growth model, offering crucial insights for the transformation and upgrading of the global tourism economy.

Ministerial Dialogue and Southeast Asian Leadership

In partnership with UN Tourism, the Forum will host a high-level ministerial panel to examine effective public-private collaboration ahead of the 2027 International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. The session will feature ministerial leaders including CHIEW Choon Man, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia; and KIM Dae-hyun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea. They will share the stage with prominent private sector leaders including Hary TANOESOEDIBJO, Executive Chairman of MNC Group; Hamish KEITH, CEO of EXO Travel Group; and MAO Xiao, Director and CEO of Shanghai Jinjiang International Hotels Co., Ltd., to discuss how to strengthen public-private partnerships, aligning government policies with private investment to achieve maximum synergy.

Aviation Mobility, Global Capital, and AI Innovation

The Forum collaborates with authoritative institutions such as the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and European Travel Commission (ETC) to present major discussion sessions. On regional corridors and mobility, Tony FERNANDES, Co-Founder of AirAsia and CEO of Capital A Group; Arthur YU, CFO of H World Group Limited; Tyrion TONG, Vice President of Public Affairs of Alibaba Group; and Fred ZHOU, President and Board Director of MGM Hospitality Asia Pacific Limited, will explore emerging Asia Pacific travel trends. Decius VALMORBIDA, President of Travel at Amadeus IT Group, will share forward-looking insights on how agentic AI is disrupting global booking and itinerary experiences. Additionally, Price KARR, Chief Financial Officer at Wynn Macau, Limited, will deliver a presentation on how Wynn Resorts leverages AI technology to reshape the cultural tourism experience.

In global investment and cross-border connectivity, Greg O'HARA, Founder and Senior Managing Director of Certares, alongside LUO Suping, Chairman of the board of Hainan Tourism Investment Group Co., Ltd., and Andrew XU, Co-President and Chief Growth Officer of Club Med Lifestyle Group, will analyze destination investment environments. Meanwhile, Elena KOUNTOURA, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament; Miguel SANZ CASTEDO, President of the European Travel Commission; SU Guoxin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, CITIC Europe Holdings a.s.; and Leo LIU, Vice President of Public Sector at Mastercard China, will address facilitating two-way visitor flows between Europe and China.

Cultural Heritage, Experiential Commerce, and Inbound Transformation

Addressing evolving consumer preferences, the Forum explores how cross-sector Tourism+ collaboration creates lasting value. Eric FOK, Vice Chairman of the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre and Chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, will take part in a fireside chat alongside Dr. Wilfred WONG, Executive Vice Chairman of Sands China Ltd., and WEN Jiahong, County Magistrate of Taijiang County in Guizhou (the birthplace of "Village BA"), to compare how grassroots sporting activities and top-tier international events create lasting economic value for tourism destinations.

In culture and corporate social responsibility, YU Minhong, Founder and Chairman of New Oriental Education & Technology Group, will share the deep logic behind integrating tourism with education and culture, while GAO Dekang, Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Bosideng International Holdings Limited, will deliver a speech under the theme "Reaching Peaks, Embracing Warmth — Together for a Sustainable Bright Future", sharing insightful perspectives on how corporate social responsibility builds resilience and green development drives industry advancement.

In commercial space and retail innovation, Mayuree CHAIPROMPRASITH, President of Corporate Partnership and Communications at Siam Piwat Company Limited, alongside QIU Kai, Founder of Tangshan Banquet and Hetou Old Street, and representatives of Macao integrated resorts, will demonstrate how combining culture, gastronomy, and technology transforms traditional retail spaces into new tourism landmarks featuring immersive experiences, social connections, and cultural expression.

On cultural heritage and high-quality inbound tourism, Dr. KONG Vireak, Secretary-General of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, will analyze mechanisms for cultural heritage conservation and living inheritance. Maria Helena DE SENNA FERNANDES, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Leo ZHANG, Vice President and General Manager of Destination Cooperation Department at Trip.com Group; and HyungTae SON, Director of Hanatour Hongkong Co., Ltd., will explore enhancing service quality to craft high-quality inbound travel experiences with deep cultural heritage. Additionally, LU Yongzheng, Member of the Standing Committee and Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee, will detail how mountain residential tourism breaks away from traditional volume-led models to foster sustainable community development and industry integration.

In addition, GTEF 2026 converges a stellar lineup of local cultural, tourism, and business leaders. Among them, Tim KELLY, President of City of Dreams Macau, will deliver a live presentation at Dancing Water Theater, while Augustus LEUNG, Assistant Vice President of Hospitality & MICE Sales of Galaxy Entertainment Group, will address delegates during the delegation luncheon. In collaboration with the Macao University of Tourism (UTM), a side event seminar titled "The Next Generation of Tourism Leadership" will be hosted at its Taipa Campus. The session will bring together leading academic authorities to explore talent attraction and development strategies. It will also examine how to close the gap between the classroom and real-world industry to foster future leaders. Dr. Fanny VONG, Rector of Macao University of Tourism, will also attend the event. The Forum has also arranged a dedicated Health and Wellness Industry Inspection Tour, leading participants to visit the Macao Union Medical Center as well as key infrastructure developments across the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. The itinerary comprehensively showcases the unique appeal of "Tourism+" cross-sector integration and new regional development opportunities between Macao and Hengqin.

As a premier global platform for high-level dialogue in culture and tourism, the 12^th Global Tourism Economy Forum leverages Macao's unique advantages as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure and a core engine of the Greater Bay Area. The Forum continues to serve as a robust bridge connecting China with the world, injecting strong momentum into a new era of resilient, inclusive, and high-quality sustainable global tourism economic growth.

About Global Tourism Economy Forum

Founded in 2012, the Global Tourism Economy Forum is a premier international platform dedicated to promoting the sustainable development of the global tourism economy. Serving as an essential bridge for exchange and cooperation between China and the international community, the Forum convenes leaders from governments, enterprises, academia, and international organizations worldwide to address opportunities and challenges in global tourism, establishing itself as one of the most influential annual events in the global tourism economy sector. 

Having successfully hosted eleven editions, the Forum has attracted over 15,500 delegates from 88 countries and regions and invited more than 780 world-renowned speakers. It has established a high-level dialogue and practical cooperation network that spans the globe and connects government, industry, academia, and research.  

For more details about the Forum, please visit https://gte-forum.com/en/ and follow official social media channels for the latest updates.

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Occasions Asia Pacific