This seminar will bring together policy makers and sector professionals to discuss the role of tourism in shaping the EU and China’s future bilateral trade and investment relations; as well as how this initiative can encourage people-to-people and cultural exchanges between European and Chinese citizens.
Download ReportThe EU-China Year of Tourism: A Gate to Increased Cultural and Economic Relations
- Start04:00 PM - Mar 14 2018
- End06:00 PM - Mar 14 2018
- Asia Platform, Rue de la Loi 26, 10th floor, 1040 Brussels
- 02 230 81 22
- alberto.turkstra@eias.org
Programme
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15:30-16:00 16:00-16:10 |
Registration Introduction by the Chair |
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Mr Axel Goethals, CEO, European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) |
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16:10-17:15 |
Panel Discussion |
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Mr Yang Xiaoguang, Counsellor, Mission of China to the EU
Mr Eric Philippart, Senior Expert, Cultural Tourism, Cultural and Creative Industries, DG Grow, European Commission Mr Eduardo Santander, Executive Director, European Travel Commission Mr Pierre Coenegrachts, Deputy CEO, Wallonie Belgique Tourisme Prof Sylvain Plasschaert, Advisory Board Member, European Institute for Asian Studies |
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17:15-18:00 18:00 |
Q&A Networking Reception |
EU-China Year of Tourism – a Gate to Increased Cultural and Economic Relations
Although tourism, as a service industry, is a large provider of jobs to many national economies, its potential to create jobs and strengthen economic growth is rarely featured in political discourse. However, an exception was made on 19 January 2018 with the launch of the EU-China Year of Tourism in Venice, Italy. In 2014, the number of outbound Chinese tourists surpassed 100 million, thereby overtaking the US and making China the largest source of tourism in the world. In 2015 alone, 12 million Chinese tourists visited Europe. The EU expects to reach an annual increase of 10 percent of Chinese visitors, which is predicted to culminate in 200 new partnership agreements between EU and Chinese companies. The 2018 EU-China Year of Tourism could provide a unique opportunity for tourism and transport professionals, policy makers, and European and Chinese destinations to promote their unique features and explore business opportunities.
This seminar will bring together policy makers and sector professionals to discuss the role of tourism in shaping the EU and China’s future bilateral trade and investment relations; as well as how this initiative can encourage people-to-people and cultural exchanges between European and Chinese citizens. It will furthermore explore ways to facilitate increased connectivity between EU and Chinese markets and enhance the visibility of Europe and China as a travel destination.
