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The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a world-class city cluster that harnessed the economic vitality of 11 cities along the Pearl River Delta. Its strategic goals include becoming a vibrant megalopolis, and a high-quality agglomeration preferred for living, working and traveling.

In recent years, the "Culture and Tourism Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" and the "Overall Plan for Building Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin " were promulgated. The Tourism Plan will lead the bay area to become a top-class tourist destination, while the Hengqin Plan provided firm support for Macao’s rise as a world centre of tourism and leisure, with an adequately diversified economy.

With the backing of the nation, Hong Kong will develop into an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange; while Macao will adopt a “1+4” strategy for economic diversification. In addition to supporting tourism, Macao is also committed to expanding the “Big Health” industry, finance, technology, convention, as well as culture and sports.

This discussion session focuses on the future of the Greater Bay Area. A high-powered panel of speakers from the public and private sectors will discuss hot questions. For example, under the Tourism Plan, how will the bay area promote high-quality development and the formation of a cross-regional multi-destination tourism industry? How will Macao, Hong Kong and nine Guangdong cities in the bay area work together in the fields of art and technology? How will the museums, theatres and exhibition halls in the region collaborate with each other to promote the bay area as a global center of cultural vibrancy? How would Hengqin unleash the potential of Macao's "1+4" strategy, and enrich the attractiveness of the bay area as a tourism destination?

Moderator

DJ CLARK，Multimedia Director of China Daily Asia Pacific (Mainland China)

Session Keynote Speaker (10 mins)

CHEN Yin (陳寅)， Chairman, China Tourism Group Corporation Limited [China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited] (Hong Kong, China)

Panelists (In alphabetical order by surname)

Kaye CHON (田桂成)， Dean and Chair Professor. Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation, Professor in International Hospitality Management, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong, China)

Eduardo SANTANDER，Executive Director of European Travel Commission (ETC), Honorary Vice Chairman of Global Tourism Economy Forum (Belgium)

SU Zhigang (蘇志剛)，Chairman of Guangdong Chimelong Group Co., Ltd (Mainland China)