On September 21 (Beijing time), Professor Bai Changhong (dean of our School) was present at WTCF Fragrant Hills Summit 2017 on invitation and delivered a keynote speech themed by "walk toward globalization: safety and collision of tourism cites" in the first forum in Los Angles.

In his speech, Professor BAI shared his reflections on the development of global tourism cities. First, terrorism has became a new challenge for the development of tourism cities, and to cope with terrorism, we must take a clear-cut stand, strengthen our conviction, improve anti-terrorism mechanism and take preventive measures. Second, the pressure in sustainable development of tourism cities is continuously increasing and excessive tourism has seriously influenced the quality of tourism cities; to resolve the problem of excessive tourism, the key should be clarifying and decomposing the supply-demand contradictions of tourism cities. Third, both the software and hardware of service facilities in tourism cities are in urgent need of upgrading and the construction of service facilities should be integrated with their development concepts, so as to achieve the mixed functions of both living and operation. Fourth, the tendency of the complicating of the interactive relationship between tourists and local residents is becoming increasingly obvious , characterized by the coexistence of friendliness and collision.      

It is reported that WTCF Los Angeles Fragrant Hills Summit 2017 was solemnly opened in the afternoon of September 19 (local time). With the theme of “globalization and the development of tourism cities world widely”, the summit had more than 400 participants, mainly ministers and mayors (37), senior executives of international tourism agencies and representatives of UNWTO, PATA and other international tourism organizations from 87 cities of 51 countries, including Li Jinzao (director of China National Tourism Administration), Zhu Shanzhong (executive director of UNWTO), Chen Jining (chairman of WTCF Council and acting mayor of Beijing City), Ernest Wooden Jr. (deputy chairman of WTCF Council and director of Los Angeles Convention and Tourism Administration), Eric · Garcetti (mayor of Los Angeles), Song Yu (secretary general of WTCF), Pia · Rica · Polquita · Pachain (deputy mayor of Helsinki City), Carl · Weber (director of WTCF Expert Committee) and Jeanie · Buss (president of Los Angeles Lakers).  

WTCF is the first global international tourism organization dominated by tourism cities with “tourism makes city life better” as its core concept. At present, WTCF has developed into an international tourism organization with 128 city members, 65 organization members and 6 branches. To be specific, its city members now cover 62 countries and regions worldwide and accounted for 35% of the global international tourism market in 2016, its organization members include travel agencies, media, airports, airlines, hotel groups, cruise ships and financial enterprises. Its current council chairman is Chen Jining, acting mayor of Beijing City.