Thailand's Bangkok The World Tourist Cities Federation (WTCF), an international tourist organization that focuses on tourism cities worldwide, and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) have announced a new organizational alliance. The purpose of the agreement is to create a strategic alliance based on the ideas of organizational development and mutual benefit for positive cooperation in areas of shared interest.

At the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (henceforth referred to as the "Forum") at the event's Thematic Forum on Sub-national Cooperation in Beijing, China, PATA Chair Peter Semone and WTCF Secretary-General Yang Shuo signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

As global travel continues to accelerate and recover from the pandemic, PATA has renewed its focus on the People’s Republic of China and its domestic, inbound, and outbound tourism portfolios. Our partnership with the World Tourism Cities Federation comes at the right time. WTCF has a superlative network of cities across the globe and is a leading voice for tourism in China, and PATA is finding ways to support the next wave of China’s tourism growth. We look forward to working with WTCF in the coming years for mutual success.” said Mr Semone.

The MOU was one of several practical cooperation projects and bilateral cooperation agreements that national governments, financial institutions, local governments, and businesses agreed to that were featured in the Forum's List of Practical Cooperation Deliverables. It highlights the critical significance that international tourist organizations play in advancing the growth of the travel and tourism sector.

WTCF Secretary-General Mr. Yang Shuo said upon signing the MOU that "the agreement fully leverages the role of WTCF as a platform." Beijing aggressively encourages the development of a tourism and cultural sector that benefits all parties as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), given its status as the initiative and headquarters city. It tells the tale of Beijing's high degree of global openness, exhibits its model and leadership position as a BRI hub city, and has ushered in a new era of excellent cooperative Belt and Road development.

"WTCF will work closely with PATA in the future, fully leveraging their respective advantages, implementing the practical content of the MOU, and jointly promoting the prosperous development of the tourism and cultural industries of the Belt and Road, to ensure that the practical results will benefit more global tourism cities," Mr. Yang additionally stated.

WTCF upholds the fundamental principle of "Better City Life through Tourism" as a worldwide organization dedicated to tourism cities. It is committed to encouraging collaboration and exchanges between organizations and cities, and it is a major factor in the creative growth of the international tourist sector.