Theme: New Quality Productive Forces: Powering the Global Tourism Economy

The Global Tourism Economy Forum (“GTEF” or “Forum”) embarks on an unprecedented new chapter, venturing beyond Macao for the first time to the northern frontier of China — Heilongjiang, the "Crown Jewel of the North”. Under the theme “New Quality Productive Forces: Powering the Global Tourism Economy”, this year’s Forum carries three strategic missions:

Leveraging the ice and snow natural resources, pioneering new industry benchmarks:
Transforming its “cold resources” into a red-hot economy, Heilongjiang has been developing a full-chain ice-and-snow ecosystem driven by culture, powered by sports, supported by equipment manufacturing, and exemplified through tourism. As one of Asia’s leading ice and snow destinations, it also serves as a testing ground for innovation in the global winter economy.

Integrating Eastern and Western cultures, raising the bar for cultural tourism:
Renowned as the UN “City of Music” and “Oriental Paris”, Harbin embodies a rich fusion of Eastern and Western cultures that provides the character for its cultural tourism. The Forum will explore how cultural IPs can be transformed into premium tourism products, positioning culture as the main engine of high-quality tourism growth.

Enhancing cross-border connectivity, expanding international cooperation:
ocated in the heart of Northeast Asia, Heilongjiang is a vital gateway for China’s northward opening-up. Leveraging this locational advantage, the Forum aims to promote more open cross-border cooperations, facilitate Belt and Road connectivity, and create new growth engines for the global tourism industry.

1. Ice-Snow Economy & Industrial Innovation
Transforming its “cold resources” into a red-hot economy, Heilongjiang has been developing a full-chain ice-and-snow ecosystem driven by culture, powered by sports, supported by equipment manufacturing, and exemplified through tourism. As one of Asia’s leading ice and snow destinations, it also serves as a testing ground for innovation in the global winter economy.

2. Cultural Empowerment & Brand Building
Examining how music, architecture, and art can enhance destination branding and create influential cultural tourism IPs against the backdrop of Heilongjiang’s unique East–West cultural DNA.

3. Investment Leadership & Project Development
Serving as a platform for global capital to match with the high-quality resources of Heilongjiang province, and spotlighting Heilongjiang's unique strengths and development pathways in sectors such as ecotourism, wellness tourism, and hotel development.

4. Cross-border Collaboration & Cooperation Opportunities
Establishing new mechanisms for global tourism cooperation, examining measures to facilitate cross-border tourism, promote infrastructure connectivity, and unlocking two-way investment potential.

As a “Davos-level” platform dedicated to advancing the global tourism economy, the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) has long focused on forward-looking industry topics, gathering political and business leaders, and academic experts from around the world. With a spirit of openness, collaboration and exploration, the Forum drives sustainable innovation and cross-sector cooperation in the tourism industry. This year’s edition, having journeyed from its home base in Macao, will leverage Heilongjiang’s unique resource strengths and strategic location to build a high-level global dialogue platform, fostering discussions on the industry’s future and connecting new opportunities across the globe.

Venturing forth from this new starting point, the Forum will continue to play its role as an international hub — guiding industry transformation through new ideas, promoting resource-sharing through cooperation, and stimulating growth momentum through innovation — contributing insights and strength to the creation of a more resilient and sustainable global tourism economy ecosystem.

Let us gather in Harbin to witness how new quality productive forces can ignite a new engine for the world tourism economy. Amidst the ice and snow backdrop, and harnessing cross-cultural cooperation as our bridge, we will jointly celebrate this global tourism event and open a new chapter of greater prosperity, openness, and sustainability for the industry.