The 19th UN Tourism/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook
Sep 18-20, 2025 | Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin, China
“Synergy in Motion: Charting New Frontiers for a Resilient, Sustainable, and Smart Tourism Ecosystem”
This forum serves as an annual Pan-Asia Pacific platform for policymakers, senior officials, researchers, and industry representatives to assess global and regional tourism trends, explore their implications, and shape future strategies. Share insights, analyse current challenges, and chart actionable pathways for the sector’s sustainable growth.
This year’s forum aims to:
Foster international tourism cooperation by identifying collaborative and innovative opportunities in travel.
Examine key challenges and opportunities for Asia Pacific tourism stakeholders, with a focus on strategies to boost competitiveness and growth.
Facilitate discussions on tourism education and cultural exchange in the digital age, emphasising educational partnerships and research related to inbound tourism.
1-day Technical Session
1-day Plenary Session
1-day Technical Tour
Registration
Attendance at the Forum is free of charge to member state delegates and affiliate members of the UN Tourism and PATA, university students currently registered on full-time tourism programmes and academics and practitioners interested in attending or presenting at the Forum.
Accommodation is not included in the registration.
Who should join?
Policymakers & Destination Managers: Representatives from National Tourism Administrations (NTAs), National Tourism Organisations (NTOs), and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) focused on trends, research, and market intelligence.
Industry Practitioners: Leaders from airlines, hospitality, tour operations, digital marketing, and tourism consultancy firms.
Academics & Researchers: Scholars and postgraduate students specialising in tourism, hospitality, and sustainable development.
Day 1: September 18
Technical Sessions
MORNING
Keynote Presentation: The Latest World Tourism Barometer
New Governance and Policy for the Future of Tourism: Leveraging Data and Collaboration
Decoding Resilience: Charting the Future of APAC Travel with Data
AFTERNOON
Empowering Tourism Talent: Bridging Education, Research, and Industry for a Sustainable Future
MICE Tourism: Redefining Business Events Through Cross-Border Collaboration and Tech-Driven Innovation
EVENING
Welcome Dinner
Day 2: September 19
Plenary Sessions
MORNING
Opening Ceremony
Keynote Session: The European Source Markets to China
Panel Session: Smart Destinations: Futureproofing Destinations for Sustainability and Resilience
AFTERNOON
Panel Session: Measuring Success in the Tourism Economy
Closing Remarks
EVENING
Dinner
Day 3: September 20
Technical Tour
Speakers
Fency Sivadasan
Director – Research, Sarawak Tourism Board
Ana Jemec Spik
Head of Data Analytics Hub, Slovenia Tourism Board
Ezequiel García Collantes
Director of Institutional Relations, SEGITTUR
Olivier Ponti
Director – Intelligence & Marketing, ForwardKeys
Hani Han
Senior Marketing Manager, Tourism Marketing Team, Incheon Tourism Organization
Fabio Montanheiro Nascimento
Manager, Data Intelligence and Competitiveness Department, EMBRATUR
Fernada Rodak
Manager, Project Management, PATA
Harry Hwang
Director, Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, UN Tourism
Liu Shijun
Executive Director, UN Tourism
Alex Rayner
Executive Board, PATA; CEO, VisitorValue
Peter Semone
Chair, PATA
Abdulaziz Alsultan
Digital Partnerships Executive Director, Saudi Tourism Authority
Michel Julian
Senior Programme Officer, UN Tourism
Professor Billy Bai
Associate Dean, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, HKPU
Bharat Nagpal
Senior Director, APAC Sales, Adara
Official Venue & Hotel: Shangri-La Hotel
Nestled on the bank of Li River, the hotel provides guests and travelers an all-new leisure and business travel experience with the outstanding Asian hospitality Shangri-La is renowned for. For business or leisure, our dedicated and experienced staff caters to the needs of guests with an extensive range of services and facilities.
Special Rate for Forum Delegates: Deluxe Room (King or Twin): RMB 730 (~ US$ 100 )
Official Hotel: City Comfort Inn
No.6 Huancheng Bei'er Road, Qixing District, Guilin, China
Special Rate for Forum Delegates: Standard Room: RMB 188 (~ US$ 26 )
If you would like to stay at one of the official hotels, make your booking through the registration form to get the listed discounted rate.
General Information
Transportation Arrangements and Airport Meeting Service
All participants will be provided with transportation from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport to their hotel and back. To arrange immediate transfer to the hotel, participants should submit their flight details using the Registration Form on or before September 1, 2025. A special conference counter at Guilin Liangjiang International Airport will receive and welcome all participants and provide them with an information kit. Transportation to social functions will also be provided.
Visa Requirement
All visitors who hold valid passports must request visas (visitors from the countries with China visa-free entry policies don’t need applying visa) for entry into China. Visas can be obtained overseas from China’s embassies and consulates.
Forum Coordinators
Feel free to contact these coordinators if you have enquiries regarding the Forum. For hotel reservations and airport transfers, please contact Ms Danqing (Lulu) Lu using the details provided below.Orianne DERRIER, Senior Project Specialist, Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism): rdap@unwto.org
Prapon KONGSIRIPIPAT, Senior Manager - Project Management, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA): prapon@PATA.org
Dr Lisa GAO, Associate Professor, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lisa.gao@polyu.edu.hk
Danqing (Lulu) Lu, Chief of International Exchange and Cooperation Department, Guilin Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism: guilinlulu@126.com
