The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), in collaboration with China International Heritage Towns Exposition, have organised the China Responsible Tourism Forum (CRTF). The forum will take place in Beijing on December 16, 2011. The event will coincide with the China Heritage Towns Exposition that will be held at the same venue December 16-18.
The forum aims to help, protect and preserve the heritage and culture of ancient villages in China, while responsibly developing these villages to boost tourism.
The forum will discuss the threat that mass tourism poses to these communities and their residents. More importantly, the forum will highlight the value tourism may bring if executed thoughtfully. Consumer travel trends indicate that tourists want to travel responsibly and connect with people and culture in an authentic way.
Esteemed international and local Chinese experts will talk about ways of implementing responsible tourism development. They will exchange ideas in developing and managing tourist sites and attractions. Among the topics that will be discussed are sustainable and scientific development strategies for deriving economic benefits from cultural assets. The objective is for the forum to become a meaningful platform for exploring the optimal development model for individual destinations.
PATA CEO, Martin Craigs, said: “PATA launching the Responsible Tourism Forum is significant given the rate of growth of tourism in China and China’s innovation in green and sustainable energy. Weighing the risks and opportunities that tourism development brings is critical, that’s why the forum is important.”
Deputy Director - Organising Committee of China International Heritage Towns Exposition, Lan Jun, said: “China has around 5,000 ancient towns and villages with a history spanning over 1,000 years. This forum comes at an opportune time. We hope to ensure responsible tourism development in these communities, enabling them to showcase their rich cultural heritage with local and international travellers.”
The forum will be moderated by CCTV Business News anchor Deidre Morris Wang. The forum’s key speakers include Geoffrey Lipman, Director of GreenEarth.travel; Anna Pollock, CEO of DestiCorp; Zhang Guangrui, Director of Tourism Research Centre of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Mei Zhang, Founder of Wild China; Mason Florence, Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office; Peter Semone, Director of Lanith Laos; and Li Jiangping, National Programme Officer for Culture of UNESCO Beijing Office. The forum will also feature case studies from hotel and tourism developments in China.
The forum will also feature case studies from hotel and tourism developments in China. The one-day forum is organised by PATA China, which will launch the PATA China Chapter during the forum. The new PATA China Chapter will be chaired by Jens Thraenhart, Co-founder and President of Dragon Trail.