Travel sector emphasizes collaboration

Cooperation and collaboration are needed to further promote the tourism industry and enhance ties, said speakers at a forum in Macao.

Currently, Argentina and Brazil are working on mutual acceptance for a Chinese tourist visa that will allow Chinese travelers to visit both countries, said Argentinian Tourism Minister Gustavo Santos, adding that the talks on this measure can be extended to other countries in South America.

Argentina signed an agreement on Oct 14 on mutual visa-exemption with Macao, which allows travelers from Macao to enter Argentina for up to 30 days without the need for a visa. The measure will be effective from mid-November. “We have built trust (with China) … and this trust will create friendship,” said Santos, noting his country can also help China fulfill its aspiration to develop soccer.

Santos was speaking at the 8th Global Tourism Economy Forum held in Macao on Oct 13-15. This year marks the 47th and 45th anniversaries of China’s diplomatic ties with Argentina and Brazil, respectively. The two South American countries were featured as partner countries of this year’s GTEF.

“Brazil is going through an important process now … and (the country) highlights its closeness to China,” said Brazilian Tourism Minister Marcelo Alvaro Antonio, adding Chinese investment in the tourism sector is welcome as he hoped to see closer bilateral cooperation through tourism.

“China can become our biggest partner in tourism … we want to transform our partnership, not just in the economic area but also in the tourism area,” said Antonio, adding that Brazil is also working to allow the issuance of electronic visas for Chinese tourists, in order to facilitate exchange between the two countries.

Hosted by Macao’s Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture in cooperation with the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the forum brought together government officials, industry leaders and academic experts from around the world to share their insights under the theme “Tourism and Leisure: Roadmap to a Beautiful Life”.

Santos said tourism provides great opportunities for the world, particularly in job creation. About 10 percent of the world’s workforce is associated with tourism, according to the UNWTO.

Noting that tourism is about healthy lifestyles and the well-being of society, Zurab Pololikashvili, the UNWTO’s secretary-general, said cooperation and experience-sharing are needed for stronger growth. He encouraged active participation from the private sector, including cooperating with the public sector to jointly keep pace with the fast-growing industry.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Former Macao chief executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah, who is now vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the GTEF, said the unveiling of the ‘Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’ early this year gives Macao new missions to achieve at this significant moment in history.

The Greater Bay Area covers nine cities in Guangdong province and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs.