The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) has unveiled its official speaker lineup and high-octane programme for its 12th edition, set to take place from 15th to 17th October in Macao SAR, China.
Centred around the theme Crisis · Resilience · Evolution — Building a Tourism Economy for a Shared Future, this year’s assembly brings together world leaders, top policymakers, C-suite executives, and academic experts across five continents to address systemic industry shifts and chart a path toward sustainable growth.
Opening the thought leadership discourse, Columbia University’s Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs will deliver a keynote speech reflecting on his 30,000-kilometre Marco Polo Drive across Eurasia, highlighting travel as a vehicle for cross-cultural understanding and diplomacy. Meanwhile, Long Yongtu, former lead negotiator for China’s WTO accession and Honorary Chairman of the Forum, will unpack China’s inclusive growth models to provide actionable insights for global destinations.
Public-private sector synergy takes center stage ahead of the 2027 International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. In a high-level ministerial panel organized with UN Tourism, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Chiew Choon Man, and the Republic of Korea’s Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kim Dae-hyun, will engage with industry leaders including MNC Group’s Hary Tanoesoedibjo, EXO Travel Group’s Hamish Keith, and Jinjiang International Hotels’ Mao Xiao.
Emerging regional mobility trends, aviation, and next-generation technologies also feature heavily. Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes, Amadeus IT Group’s Decius Valmorbida, and executives from Alibaba, MGM Hospitality, and Wynn Macau will evaluate how agentic AI and tech solutions are reshaping booking flows and visitor touchpoints. Meanwhile, cross-border connectivity discussions led by European Travel Commission President Miguel Sanz Castedo and Mastercard China’s Leo Liu will focus on optimizing two-way travel corridors between Europe and Asia.
Beyond the mainstage debates, GTEF 2026 highlights cross-sector “Tourism+” integrations across sports, cultural heritage, and commercial retail. Highlights include a fireside chat featuring Eric Fok, Vice Chairman of the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre, alongside Guizhou’s "Village BA" County Magistrate Wen Jiahong, comparing grassroots athletic movements to major international sporting events.
Delegates will also take part in educational seminars at the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) and an inspection tour of the Macao Union Medical Center in Hengqin, spotlighting wellness travel opportunities across the Greater Bay Area.
As Macao continues to consolidate its positioning as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, GTEF 2026 looks to reinforce the city’s role as a vital nexus connecting China with the international travel trade landscape.
