The WTCF Hong Kong Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2025, jointly hosted by the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, successfully opened on April 15, 2025, in Hong Kong, China. Themed "Innovate City Branding to Elevate Tourism Excellence", the Summit brought together over 60 cities from 43 countries, representatives of global organizations, tourism enterprises, and experts to exchange insights and explore strategies for high-quality tourism development.

Key Highlights of the Summit:

• Forums and Discussions:

• • City Brand Building and Inbound Tourism Development Forum
  • Mayors' Forum
  • Hong Kong Tourism Development Forum
  • Beijing Inbound Tourism Policy and Resources Promotion Conference

• Business Networking:
  Over 570 tourism negotiations were conducted between more than 100 buyers and sellers from Beijing and Hong Kong, achieving an estimated transaction volume of nearly CNY 200 million.

• Global Participation:
  Delegates from 43 countries and 60+ cities, including city and institutional members, international organizations, and tourism enterprises, convened to discuss collaborative growth in the global tourism industry.

Launch of the "Hong Kong Initiative": 

The "Hong Kong Initiative" was officially unveiled at the opening ceremony as a blueprint for the future of global tourism cities. This initiative emphasizes:

•    Cultural Inheritance and Innovation as the foundation for tourism development.
•    Technology Empowerment to drive growth.
•    Sustainability as a guiding principle.
•    Global Collaboration as a pathway for development.
•    Tourism Safety as a key guarantee for progress.

The initiative serves as an action guide for enhancing cultural exchange, economic growth, and global tourism cooperation, contributing to the prosperity of the international tourism industry.

This year’s Summit also included the release of the "Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2025)", which highlights the Asia-Pacific region as a key driver of global tourism growth.

The WTCF reaffirms Hong Kong’s pivotal role as an international tourism hub and highlights its unique opportunities under the Greater Bay Area initiative.

For more details, please visit: WTCF Hong Kong Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2025