The first SKAL Club to be established in mainland China has been officially approved by the Chinese government authorities. SKAL International Beijing has been officially formed with both Chinese and non-Chinese nationals as individual members.

It is the first, tourism, non-government organization with individual members to be officially sanctioned by the government of the People’s Republic of China. Enrique Quesada, President of SKAL International, said he looked forward to the formal inauguration of the new SKAL Club.

"The Executive Committee of SKAL International was delighted to approve the first SKAL Club in mainland China and looks forward to welcoming many new SKAL members from China into the SKAL organization,” Mr. Quesada said.

SKAL International was established in 1934 and is a professional organization of tourism leaders worldwide, promoting global tourism and friendship. SKAL International has approximately 18,000 members in 450 Clubs throughout 87 nations. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its members, the industry’s managers and executives, meet at local, national, regional, and international levels to discuss and pursue topics of common interest.

Tony Boyle, Immediate Past President of SKAL International, from Townsville, Australia, met with Chairman Lu Yong shortly after this event, and a series of meetings and discussions transpired resulting in the formal approval by the Chinese authorities to form a SKAL chapter in Beijing.

Mr. Boyle said he was touched by the warmth of the people of Beijing during his visits to China during the past year and was excited about the establishment of the branch.

"It’s really a great feeling to have finalized this complex negotiation, and I think it will have far-reaching consequences,” he said, “China is the world’s largest burgeoning tourism destination, and the establishment of a SKAL Club in mainland China will open enormous opportunities for the travel industry to do business in China, both inbound and outbound, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. I have no doubt there will be significant membership growth of SKAL International in China.”