New federation forges ties for Greater Bay tourism

The Tourism Federation of Cities in the Guangdong, Hong Kong & Macao Bay Area approved founding articles at Hengqin New Area on Dec 11, declaring intention to "join hands to forge a world-class travel destination."

The new organization will foster "communication and cooperation among members through resource integration, image promotion, collaborative marketing, and other means. Its first member assembly supported 'concerted development, joint branding, and market sharing'," reported macaubusiness.com.

Members are Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs.

The Tourism Commission under the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau of Hong Kong and the Macao Tourism Office initiated the effort in conjunction with the Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province.

The federation wants a "new tourism benchmark as a world-class bay area, creating a strong momentum for tourism development for the entire region of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao and national tourism development," according to an official note.

Collaborative efforts will be made to publicize each other's tourism destinations and cross-promote products and routes to domestic and overseas markets.

General assembly [Photo by Zhu Xi / Zhuhai Daily]

The new institution also wants "to put the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Bay Area into implementation and together build a quality living circle ideal for inhabitation, work, and travel."

Win-win situations are to be achieved through cooperation in information exchanges, market sharing, and encouraging travelers to tour the entire region.

Moreover, resource advantages will be combined to further integrate the tourism sector with other industries.

Establishment of the federation was guided by the National Tourism Administration with its inauguration ceremony held during the 2017 Guangdong International Tourism & Culture Festival in Zhuhai from Dec 12 to 14.

Li Yaying, director general of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs Department of the China National Tourism Administration; Zeng Yingru, director general of the Guangdong Tourism Administration; and representatives from the two SARs attended the general assembly meeting.