The European Commission-funded Partnerships in European Tourism project will arrive in Beijing at the China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market in April 2018 – marking the first of a series of B2B tourism events taking place in China as part of the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year.

The 2018 EU-China Tourism Year was announced in 2016 by the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Junker and the Chinese Prime Minister, Li Keqiang. Partnerships in European Tourism is an initiative as part of this this year aimed at supporting EU tourism businesses and operators wishing to expand their businesses into China. This is achieved through tutoring activities, facilitating new collaborations and partnerships around trans-European tourist products and the organisation of B2B matchmaking and other promotional events alongside international fairs.

Now in its 14th year, COTTM is the longest running and most well respected platform for the outbound tourism market. It is the only business to business event that focusses on the expanding outbound tourism market. In 2017 COTTM attracted over 4300 Chinese trade buyers and more than 450 exhibitors from 70 countries and is the only exhibition that is 100% business to business and 100% outbound.

COTTM was selected as the first venue to host a China-based event in the 2018 programme – a B2B matchmaking between European businesses and Chinese operators will take place, as well as a thematic conference on EU-China cooperation on tourism with a focus on the particular draw of family travel to Europe.

The European delegation is working closely with the China Tourism Academy (CTA) to deliver a conference programme within the COTTM programme to demonstrate the very best of Europe’s offer to the outbound Chinese market.

Dai Bing, President of China Tourism Academy – said, “COTTM aims to promote the development of China outbound tourism and the partnerships between China and overseas destinations since it was launched, and builds a bridge for the communication between China and the global tourism industry. China Tourism Academy (CTA) is willing to support the cooperation between COTTM and the European Travel Commission (ETC) and European Tourism Association (ETOA).”

“We are delighted to be hosting a delegation from Europe at the 2018 event in collaboration with the ETOA – the European tourism association. This is an important development for the show, and we know from visitor feedback that Europe is a very important destination for the Chinese outbound tourism market. We look forward to a continued partnership and to see the business opportunities develop at the show.” Said Matt Thompson, Project Director, Tarsus Group Ltd.

Tom Jenkins, CEO of ETOA – European tourism association, head of the consortium delivering the Partnerships in European Tourism programme – said: “Following the official opening of the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year in Venice in January, it makes complete sense that we bring the first in-market Partnerships in European Tourism event to the Chinese capital. Bringing a matchmaking, conference and exhibition at the only dedicated B2B outbound event in China will ensure the best business development opportunities for all involved.“

H.E. Ms. Eliza Jean Reid, First Lady of Iceland has been nominated as Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The appointment took place at the second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture, an official event of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, being held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman on 11 and 12 December.

UNWTO launched the Special Ambassadors for Tourism and the SDGs program as a legacy of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. The program aims at advocating for the contribution of sustainable tourism´s to the 17 SDGs and encouraging the full integration of tourism and the SDGs in national, regional and global agendas.

In her intervention at the Conference H.E. Ms. Eliza Jean Reid underlined the relevance of sustainable tourism as a means to build peace and social cohesion “A strong, positive correlation exists between tourism and peace. The very existence of tourism depends on peace and security. Tourism represents a vital force for peace and a factor of friendship and understanding among the peoples of the world, because of the direct contacts it engenders between people of different cultures and lifestyles.” she said.

“With my strong belief in the power of sustainable tourism to help reduce inequality and increase tolerance, it is a tremendous honour for me to have been asked to be a Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals.” she added.

“By becoming a Special Ambassador on Tourism and SDGs the First Lady who personify Iceland’s wholehearted commitment to sustainable tourism development will surely provide an invaluable support to our efforts to make tourism more sustainable and increase our contribution to all 17 SDGs” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

HE Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow), the Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism of the Federal Republic of Somalia attends the Second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism & Culture which is taking place in Muscat, the Sultanate of Oman 11 – 12 December 2017. Minister Eng. Yarisow today met the Secretary-General of thw World Tourism Organization, Talib Rifai.

Minister Eng. Yarisow is accompanied with Mr Yasir Baffo, Advisor on Tourism. Somali Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman HE Abdirizak Farah Ali Taano welcomed the delegation at Muscat.

The issues discussed included the conference on tourism and culture and the plans to revive Somali tourism.

Minister Eng. Yarisow stated that “Somalia is strategically located in the Horn of Africa and its people are born natural hospitable. Somalis are resilient and entrepreauners which are all assets that can quickly revive the tourism industry in the country. There are over 150 travel agencies in Somalia as well as a number of locally owned airliners that attract a number of travelers each day as the country is getting peace and stability. International flights and regional carriers flights regularly travel to Somalia such as Turkish Airline, Fly Dubai, Al-Arabia, Air Djibouti and Ethiopian Airline are all international airliners that go to Somalia.

Somalis in the Diaspora also visit the country with their families and the Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism encourages the Diaspora to attract their friends to visit Somalia in order to experience the huge progress that the country is making every day.

Minister Eng. Yarisow concluded “Somalia has a number attractive tourism places throughout the country and the weather of Somalia is perfect for tourists throughout the year. We are here to share our plans and strategies to revive tourism in Somalia as well as learning from other countries on how they overcome the challenges that we face in Somalia.”