ICTP President Professor Geoffrey Lipman pointed out in London the positive aspect of China tourism towards the world and the commitment of the Chinese government towards the travel industry perceived as a pillar of economic growth.
LONDON – Addressing the China Tourism Forum at the World Travel Market, ICTP President Professor Geoffrey Lipman reflected on his three decades of engagement with China Travel and Tourism and pointed to the systematic build-up of what he described as “a great positive force for change” for the whole world.
Lipman described his involvement with China’s Aviation and Tourism growth, with IATA WTTC and UNWTO and expressed confidence in the vision, planning and execution of China’s leadership. He highlighted the following reasons:
- The immense size and potential of demand for the China travel experience, predicting that within 5 years it will be the largest domestic, inbound and outbound market in the world.
- The domestic market today of 2.6 billion trips is already more than double the total international travel that UNWTO predict for 2012
- The fact that China has declared this sector to be a strategic pillar of economic growth, a key consumption engine in its 12th 5 year plan and an integral part of its strengthening international trade and development collaboration.
- That it has delivered on this by focusing its economic stimulus spending on fast roads, high speed trains and dozens of new airports – the fundamental infrastructure of travel.
- It’s investment in partnerships with African Nations will lead to a great win-win travel flow, much of it through the emerging gulf mega hubs and airlines. This will be a major factor in the continent’s development agenda and the millennium development goals as a whole.
- China’s commitment to carbon reduction targets and its determination to be a leader in renewable energy will not only make it a champion of Green Growth, but will help the travel and tourism sector in its own transformation.
The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, and fair coherent taxation.
ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them.
ICTP has destination members in Anguilla; Aruba; Australia; Bangladesh; Belgium, Belize; Brazil; Canada; Caribbean; China; Croatia; Cyprus; Ecuador; Egypt; (The) Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; India; Indonesia; Iran; Italy; Jordan; Kenya; Korea (South); La Reunion (French Indian Ocean); Malaysia; Malawi; Malaysia; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; (The) Netherlands; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Northern Mariana Islands (USA Pacific Island Territory); Romania; Sultanate of Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Philippines; Portugal; Rwanda; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sri Lanka; St. Eustatius (Dutch Caribbean); St. Kitts; St. Lucia; Sudan; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Trinidad &Tobago; Uganda; USA; Yemen; Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
