Macao Declaration issued as 8th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting concludes

MACAO (Xinhua) - The 8th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8) wrapped up in Macao on Saturday after issuing a declaration which covered measures to develop the region's tourism industry.

At the one-day meeting, 152 attendees from 21 APEC member economies and international tourism organizations, discussed five main topics including integration of Asia-Pacific tourism markets, facilitating transformation and growth of the tourism industry, promoting intelligent tourism with modern technology and interconnection of Asia Pacific travel, and encouraging low-carbon development and co-operation between tourism operators.

The attendees recognized that the Asia-Pacific region is the largest tourism market in the world, and that there is great potential for promoting the integration of the Asia-Pacific tourism market, according to the Macao Declaration.

They encouraged APEC member economies to discuss the necessity and feasibility of enhancing tourism coordination mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific region and promote integrated development of tourism and other industries.

The ministers also said that member economies should boost innovation, explore and promote smart tourism and related cooperation, and share business and other opportunities that come along with smart tourism.

They vowed to steadily increase tourism market access, improve the mechanism for tourism market management, and simplify visa and customs clearance procedures.

Established in 1989, APEC currently has 21 member economies and three official observers.

To enhance tourism exchanges and cooperation and facilitate tourism development of the Asia Pacific Region, a biennial tourism ministerial meeting was launched in 2000.

TMM8 is the first APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting hosted by China, which has been sending delegations to participate in this event since its inception.