Today, the global urban population reaches 4.4 billion, more than half of the world's total population. Cities have long been centers of innovation, creativity and cultural exchange, as well as intrinsic generators of tourism. Cities contribute as much as 80% of global GDP and will continue to grow over the next decade. The city remains an iconic tourist destination and a major tourist attraction. Tourism’s share of economic activity in major cities is expected to increase over the next decade. This discussion session will be in collaboration with the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), which will present views on the future of urban tourism and jointly discuss how tourism can help cities become not only good places to visit, but also livable places. What infrastructure and tourism products are changing cities? How does smart city construction unleash the business development potential of tourism? How are conventions, exhibitions, entertainment and sports events changing urban tourism? What innovative initiatives will change our understanding of urban tourism? How will cultural heritage protection and revitalization in city centers transform cities? How can urban revitalization and renewal benefit citizens? How can the government and business community collaborate to create new cultural landmarks for the city and attract more tourists?

(in cooperation with World Tourism Cities Federation)

Moderator

YAN Han (嚴晗)， Deputy Secretary-General of World Tourism Cities Federation (Mainland China)

Panelists (In alphabetical order by surname)

FENG Yuliang (馮宇亮)，Chief Economist of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development (Mainland China)

Daisy HO Chiu Fung (何超鳳)，Managing Director of SJM Resorts, S.A. (Macao, China)

Karl WÖBER，Full Professor and Founding President of MODUL University Vienna; Director of the WTCF Experts Committee (Austria)

Wilfred WONG (王英偉)，President and Executive Director of Sands China Limited (Macao, China)