The 12th Global Tourism Economy Forum successfully concluded in Macao, reuniting approximately 1,300 government delegates, international organizational representatives, commercial leadership teams, academic scholars, and media professionals from over 20 countries and territories. Digital broadcasts of the premier event generated over 8.6 million global online views, reaffirming the special administrative region’s role as a major hub for international conferences and cultural exchange.
Keynote addresses and high-level panel discussions centered on building a resilient tourism economy, boosting inbound travel, integrating cultural assets into modern hospitality, and advancing sustainable practices across global travel supply chains.
Global Decision-Makers Convene to Advance Sustainable Travel Policies
Official closing proceedings highlighted the role of international dialogue in guiding the global travel sector through economic shifts. Senior leadership from UN Tourism, Turespaña, the European Travel Commission, national commerce federations, and regional government bodies participated in closing sessions to evaluate strategic outcomes.
Official releases from the Macao Government Tourism Office emphasize that bringing together global decision-makers over consecutive editions has positioned the forum as an international platform for building sector consensus. By leveraging its geographic and structural connectivity, Macao shares urban development models that encourage cross-border cooperation and innovative solutions for global tourism.
Leadership from the Global Tourism Economy Forum noted that environmental sustainability represents a scalable economic opportunity capable of keeping long-term value within host communities while appealing directly to modern travelers.
Key Statistical Highlights and Business Matching Success
The multi-day event featured 28 primary forum sessions, high-level policy dialogues, and technical panels. A total of 75 featured speakers and moderators contributed insights into sustainable destination management, civil aviation recovery, and cultural tourism integration.
Key event metrics published by forum organizers include:
Global Audience Reach: Approximately 1,300 in-person participants and over 8.6 million live stream views worldwide.
Bilateral Government Consultations: Around 50 bilateral meetings convened across tourism policy, civil aviation, investment promotion, and international trade development.
Commercial Business Matching: Over 600 participating delegates completed more than 1,000 business-to-business online and offline matchings, including over 90 successful connections during specialized Spanish commercial sessions.
These targeted business matching sessions facilitated direct commercial partnerships across international hospitality, travel technology, and aviation sectors.
Strategic Hainan-Macao Partnership and 2027 Forum Hosting Announcement
A major outcome of the event was the official announcement that Hainan Province will host the 13th Global Tourism Economy Forum in 2027. To support this transition, the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province signed a formal memorandum of understanding to deepen regional cooperation.
The agreement aligns with broader national regional integration strategies, connecting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with the Hainan Free Trade Port. Both regions will share tourism resources, coordinate promotional campaigns, and enhance industry matching to drive collaborative growth between Hainan as an International Tourism and Consumption Center and Macao as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
The upcoming 2027 edition in Hainan will focus heavily on green and blue tourism initiatives, encouraging preservation-first travel models that protect marine and land ecosystems.
Immersive Cultural and Health Tourism Excursions Showcase Regional Synergy
To complement formal discussions, official event itineraries incorporated curated inspection tours demonstrating Macao’s expanding non-gaming and “Tourism+” initiatives. Delegates explored the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Historic Centre of Macao and attended a national cultural showcase presented by 22 cultural institutions.
Participants also visited major regional infrastructure projects, including the Macao Medical Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park in Hengqin, and the Zhuhai Chimelong International Ocean Resort. These inspection visits highlighted ongoing regional synergy between Macao and Hengqin, particularly within the growing “Tourism + Big Health” and “Tourism + Culture” sectors.
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