The last speakers that we have confirmed include the chairman of the Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality, Mr. Li Wenyao and Mr. Torstein Hagen, CEO of Viking River Cruises. The tourism promotion boards of  Guangzhou and London will conclude the conference with a special ceremony signing an agreement on mutual tourism cooperation by their respective tourism board leaders.

China is transforming into a mainstream tourist destination

As China`s tourism industry matures, theme tourism becomes popular and niche travel products start to appear. The conference will address this transformation and show how all tour operators can benefit from working with Chinese partners to promote tourism to China. Torstein Hagen, CEO of Viking River Cruises, has experienced the growth in demand for upmarket travel in China from the West. He will be talking to us about the challenges of marketing China and maintaining high standards at all times. Albert Ng of Wild China will explain how off the beaten track tourism can flourish in China. Mark Eadie of ERM China will talk about the great challenges of protecting natural and cultural heritage while using tourism to benefit rural areas. Peter Wong chairman of MK Corporation has built eco resorts throughout China that maintain the balance between human development and environmental protection.

Ray Hole and David Anderson who will share their experience of working with Chinese counterparts to enhance heritage tourism, visitor experience and attraction management will be at the conference.

Harold Goodwin and Costas Christ, leading figures in the field of responsible tourism, will be discussing the need to develop tourism both within China and between China and the rest of the world, in a responsible and sustaianble manner. Harold Goodwin has recently published an article on China Dialogue which you can read here.

Speakers from China`s tourism boards will also address the conference and take questions about their work to attract more European visitors.