Intl representatives discuss building sustainable tourism destinations in Sanya

The 9th TPO Forum is held in Sanya, Hainan, on Aug 29. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

The 9th Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO) Forum took place in Sanya, Hainan, on Aug 29. City government representatives from countries such as China, South Korea, Malaysia, and international organizations like the United Nations World Tourism Organization convened to discuss new trends and opportunities in the development of global city tourism, aiming to foster the creation of sustainable tourism destinations.

Huang Haiguo, the director of the United Nations World Tourism Organization for the Asia-Pacific region, highlighted in his keynote speech that as of May 2024, global international tourist arrivals have rebounded to 89 percent of the levels seen in the same period of 2019, indicating a steady recovery in the international tourism industry.

Secretary-General Zhao Zaidong of the TPO emphasized the importance of ensuring that tourism grows sustainably, resiliently, and inclusively. He stressed the need to strike a balance between economic benefits and environmental protection while creating eco-friendly tourism cities.

During the TPO Forum, the "Sustainable Tourism Sanya Declaration" was released to promote sustainable tourism practices, drive technological innovation and progress, and help the city become a leader in openness and cooperation. Zhang Hao, deputy director of the Sanya tourism board, stated that by the start of 2024, Sanya had opened 16 international flight routes, welcoming over 400,000 inbound tourists, a significant increase compared to 2019.

Zhang mentioned that Sanya will conduct more targeted marketing and promotional activities tailored to different source markets such as Russian-speaking countries, Southeast Asian countries, Japan, and South Korea, to expand the inbound tourism market. By hosting festivals, sports events, conferences, and exhibitions from April to September, the city aims to diversify year-round tourism activities and enhance the development of sustainable tourism destinations.