News Report (By Feng Ying) China National Tourism Market Conference was convened on December 23-24, 2008 in Qingdao Municipality for implementation of the spirit of this year’s central economic work conference, and analysis of new circumstances, challenges and tasks the tourism market is faced with. Among attendees are Du Jiang, Deputy Director of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Xia Geng and Wu Jingjian, Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Qingdao Municipality.

In his keynote speech, Du Jiang highlighted the impact of the global financial crisis on China’s tourism industry, outlined three major policy adjustments for tourism market and clearly put forward the overall strategy of national tourism marketing for some time to come, which is to comprehensively upgrade pertinence, professionalism and effectiveness of tourism marketing by taking scientific outlook on development as the guidance, market research as the basis, integrated tourism image promotion as the core and marketing channel construction as the approach.

According to Du Jiang, China’s tourism market, now in rip currents, is challenged with particularly arduous tasks and knotty situation. Professionals working in the domain of tourism marketing have stood the test and improved their skills in the treacherous market environment.

Du Jiang believes favorable and unfavorable conditions, challenges and opportunities will co-exist for some time and that the upward trend of China’s long-term tourism development has not altered in spite of the financial crisis. The fundamentals of China’s economic and social development remain intact, providing underpinning support for tourism development; Macro-economic policy set down by the Central Government to expand domestic demand and stimulate consumption has creates a rare opportunity for tourism development; Market adjustment prompted by the financial crisis has created favorable conditions for tourism transformation and upgrading as well as service enhancement; immense potential of China’s tourism market lays an reassuring market foundation for coping with crises; crises offer an opportunity for tourism industry to accumulate valuable experience in enhancing anti-risk capabilities.

Du Jiang accentuated that we can and will translate pressure into motivation, challenges into opportunities and minimize the adverse impacts of the financial crisis as long as we comprehensively assess the situation, make informed decisions and consummate arrangements, work in a down-to-earth manner and give full play to our own strengths. He called on everyone in the industry to take a resolute stance, go all out to ride out the storm, put forward innovative marketing philosophy and redouble marketing efforts to ensure stable and rapid growth of the tourism industry in 2009.

Zhushan Zhong, head of CNTA Tourism Promotion and International Affairs Office reported on the performance of China’s three major tourism markets in 2008, reviewed this year’s national tourism marketing and promotional efforts, and mapped out the strategy and focus of national tourism marketing work in 2009.

A number of experts and scholars, including Galaxy Securities Chief Economist Zuo Xiaolei, VISA China General Manager Li Sheng, Ye Zhende, Mainland China Director of Hong Kong Tourism Board, and Zhang Lingyun, Deputy President of Tourism Development Research Institute of Beijing International Studies University, addressed the conference on issues pertaining to the current global financial crisis and its impact on China’s tourism industry, and provide professional guidance on tourism marketing. Heads of local tourism bureaus of Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, etc. and of travel agencies including China International Travel Service Head office (CITS) addressed the conference on December 24 and exchanged ideas with attendees on tourism marketing and promotion.

A total of 130 representatives from tourism bureaus of 31 municipalities, provinces, autonomous regions and Xinjiang Military Construction Unit, 10 sub-provincial cities, five cities with independent budgetary status, Suzhou, Guilin, Huangshan, and large tourism enterprises including the likes of CITS, China Travel Service, China Youth Travel Service and Beijing Tourism Group were present at the conference.