The Global Tourism Economy Forum (“GTEF” or “Forum”), an international platform dedicated to promoting the sustainable development of the global tourism economy, will hold its 2025 edition from December 15 to 17 in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.
Under the theme “New Quality Productive Forces: Powering the Global Tourism Economy”, the Forum will gather over 1,000 guests from five continents and more than 30 countries and regions, including the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, heads of international organizations, government officials, ministers of culture and tourism, executives from Fortune Global 500 companies, renowned entrepreneurs, and experts.
Together, they will forge a new stage for open cooperation and jointly chart a future blueprint for the global tourism economy.
Launched in 2012 in the Macao Special Administrative Region, GTEF is an annual summit that has successfully held ten editions to date, attracting over 14,000 participants from more than 90 countries and regions.
It has partnered with 44 countries and 13 Chinese provinces and cities to promote cultural and tourism brands, serving as a vital bridge linking China with the world. This year, the Forum is venturing beyond Macao for the first time to the “Ice City” of Heilongjiang, a milestone that reflects the province’s growing influence in the cultural tourism sector, and the steady expansion of its international cooperation network.
In recent years, Heilongjiang has championed the development of its unique cultural tourism sector, capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The province has successfully harnessed its ice and snow appeal and innovative spirit to establish a diverse industry ecosystem — encompassing the ice-snow economy, winter sports, eco-tourism, and wellness retreats — all strategically tailored to local strengths and powered by new quality productive forces.
Through its two “100-day tourism promotion campaigns”, which promoted the province as a cool haven for summer, and as classic ice-snow destination during winter; it has since expanded its cultural and tourism offerings from seasonal popularity to year-round vibrancy and achieved remarkable results.
