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HO HAU WAH

Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Forum Chairman of Global Tourism Economy Forum
Welcome to the Global Tourism Economy Forum • Macao 2019. The year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Coinciding with this significant moment in history is the conception of the ‘Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.’Promulgated earlier this year as a blueprint for our Country’s future strategic development, this Plan gives Macao a key role with new missions to achieve. Designated by the Outline Development Plan as one of the four core Greater Bay Area cities, Macao is now at the threshold of a new life that will consolidate its position as a ‘World Centre of Tourism and Leisure’ and as a ‘Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries’, and strengthen its historic role as a centre for multicultural exchange and cooperation in a unique Chinese cultural context. The state-anointed status of Macao as a core engine to drive regional development confirms our Country’s confidence in and expectations for the city. In its unique position as ‘One Centre, One Platform and One Base’,Macao strives to contribute to the overall development of our Country as a strong tourism economy at the heart of the Greater Bay Area, driving the synergy across neighbouring cities in the development of tourism in the Greater Bay Area. Tourism is one of the pillars of the global economy and in many ways, it is an integrated happiness industry.In the new era of international relations, tourism’s unique attributes should be leveraged to encourage people to converge, connect and construct. Tourism’s unique ability to give a channel to aspirations to build a better life can also contribute to sustainable growth, providing win-win results for all stakeholders in the tourism industry. The latest edition of the Global Tourism Economy Forum is themed ‘Tourism and Leisure: Roadmap to a Beautiful Life’. On the occasion when China celebrates her 47 and 45 years of diplomatic ties with Argentina and Brazil respectively, we are honoured to have the two Latin American countries here in Macao as the Forum’s Partner Countries. For its part, Macao will strengthen its distinctive role as an exchange platform and join hands with China, Argentina and Brazil to drive the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ in an amicable atmosphere. This Forum edition will also focus on Jiangsu Province as the Featured Chinese Province. Crowned ‘the land of nature’s bounties’, Jiangsu is one of the cradles of Chinese culture and is a significant component of the Yangtze River Delta Integration Plan. The presence of Jiangsu Province in the Forum will open the door to collaborative opportunities between China and the world, creating complementary interaction between the Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta, and spearhead the concerted development of the tourism economy. With a proven track record over the past editions, Macao is confident that the Forum will continue its successful streak in forging new experiences and paving new ways for the development of the global tourism economy. My sincere wishes for a very successful Global Tourism Economy Forum • Macao 2019.