Macao – October 21, 2026 -- The 12th Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) closed in Macao with more than 1,000 business-to-business matchings and a confirmed host for 2027: Hainan Province, which will stage the 13th edition under a memorandum of understanding signed with the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO).
Hainan and Macao sign tourism cooperation memorandum for 2027
MGTO and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province signed the memorandum to deepen cooperation in tourism and related fields. The two sides will align with the development strategies of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port, and will strengthen resource sharing and industry matching.
Bateer, Hainan's Executive Vice Governor, said the province wants to use Macao as a bridge to global partners in mutual visitations, industry development and cultural tourism innovation. He described Hainan as an International Tourism and Consumption Center and Macao as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
Forum logs 1,300 attendees and 8.6 million online views
The event gathered about 1,300 government officials, international organization representatives, business leaders, experts, scholars and journalists from more than 20 countries and regions. Live broadcasts drew over 8.6 million online views.
The program included 28 main forum sessions, high-level dialogues and panels, with 75 officiating guests, speakers and moderators. Topics covered resilient tourism economy, inbound tourism, cultural tourism integration and sustainability.
Business matching yields over 1,000 deals, including 90 with Spain
Business matching sessions engaged over 600 participants on site and produced more than 1,000 business-to-business matchings online and offline. Over 90 of these came from the Spain Business Matching sessions. Spain was the Forum's partner country, represented by Miguel Sanz Castedo, Director General of Turespaña and President of the European Travel Commission.
About 50 bilateral meetings covered tourism, civil aviation, investment promotion and international cooperation.
Organizers put green tourism on the agenda for the Hainan edition
Pansy Ho, GTEF Vice Chairman and Secretary-General, said in her closing remarks that going green is "a scalable opportunity" that resonates with young travelers and keeps value within local communities. She proposed that the Hainan edition address "Green and Blue Tourism" and work toward a model of "trace-free, preservation-first tourism."
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, MGTO Director and GTEF Vice Chairman, said the Forum has become an international platform for building consensus and shaping industry trends.
Site tours showcase Macao's "Tourism+" offerings
Delegates toured the Historic Centre of Macao and an exhibition presented jointly by 22 cultural institutions nationwide. Other stops included the Macao Union Medical Center, the Hengqin Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture Experience Hall and the Zhuhai Chimelong International Ocean Resort. The tours highlighted "Tourism + Culture" and "Tourism + Big Health" collaboration between Macao and Hengqin.