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By Wong Joon San in Macaojoonsan@chinadailyhk.迷你倉comThis year’s Global Tourism Economy Forum 2013 is expected to build on last year’s success and go even further in exploring multi-directional connections and international exchanges, expanding strategic cooperation networks and creating win-win situations in the worldwide tourism economy, forum participants heard on Wednesday.In his welcome address at the two-day forum, Ho Hau-wah, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the forum’s chairman, said the success of last year’s inaugural forum had drawn unprecedented attention and recognition globally.The former chief executive of the Macao SAR said the 2012 forum had effectively connected and stimulated exchanges between governments, private tourism and related industries on both domestic and international levels, and also cast a solid foundation for future cooperation.Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai-on, in his opening address at the 2013 forum, which is held at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre and the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, said: “Despite frequent changes and complex factors faced by the international environment, the global tourism industry keeps growing steadily.“According to recent statistics published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the first half of 2013 saw a 5 percent increase in the number of international visitors, or nearly half-a-billion visitors,” he said.Chui noted the global increase in the number of international tourists has exceeded some prior estimates, suggesting that tourism has become a global trend with high development potential and capability to drive economic growth for a travel destination.“With the tourism industry as one of Macao’s leading industries, the Macao SAR government resolutely implements the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle, while being dedicated to building Macao into a world center of tourism and leisure,” Chui said.Su Rong, also a CPPCC National Committee vice-chairman, in his congratulatory message at tmini storagee forum, said tourism is a great industry as it gives impetus towards social and economic development and also drives development of different sectors of the economy.Su praised the forum as a being a positive platform for people from various sectors to convene and discuss issues, brainstorm and look for solutions.In his supporting remarks, Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of UNWTO, said: “As there are numerous new opportunities for tourism in Asia and the rest of the world, we believe that by joining forces (as at the forum), the potential available to tourism could be tapped everywhere.”He pointed out that the number of international tourists continued to increase worldwide annually, and this trend not only assisted in job creation, but also grew much faster than many other sectors.The All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce Vice-Chairman Li Lu, who also made a supporting declaration, said under China’s 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), it was clearly stated that tourism had been identified as an area that had to be given priority for development while harnessing the support of the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and those of the private sector.He said through steadily promoting the forum, it would also improve the people’s understanding of tourism as well as how to plan for tourism.“While more Chinese are going abroad to travel as well as to invest, equally there were more foreigners coming to China, boosting the development of tourism in the country,” Li said, adding that he was happy to work with the forum’s delegates this year to promote tourism for better “friendship and peace”.Du Jiang, vice-chairman of China National Tourism Administration, who also declared support for the forum, said the central government was presently promoting tourism as a pillar economy.“According to the UNWTO, by 2030 there would be 1.8 billion visitors in the Asia-Pacific region alone,” he said.By 2020, more than 180 million visitors will come to China and 150 million Chinese visitors will go traveling overseas, Du said, underlying the importance of tourism in the country.self storage