Preparations for 8th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting completed

MACAO -- Delegates for the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 8th Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8) are arriving in China's Macao as preparations for the meeting have been completed regarding venue arrangements, hospitality for visiting delegations, media coverage and security work, organizers said Wednesday.

The meeting, hosted by the China National Tourism Administration and organized by the Macao Special Administration Region, will be held in Macao on Sept. 13.

A total of 152 attendees, including the tourism ministers or representatives of the 21 APEC economies, delegates from the APEC Secretariat, the United Nation World Tourism Organization, the World Travel and Tourism Council, the Asia Pacific Travel Association, and the APEC Center for International Sustainable Tourism, have already registered for the event.

Some 300 journalists from local, the Chinese mainland and overseas media organizations have also registered to cover the meeting.

The government of the Macao Special Administrative Region will host the "Macao Night"-- Welcome Dinner for the delegates from around the world on Sept.12.

The TMM8 will officially open at the Macao East Asian Games Dome in the morning of Sept. 13, and the Press Conference for Meeting Achievements will be held in the same afternoon.

With the theme "Exploration of Asia Pacific Tourism Cooperation and Future Development", the five main topics for discussion during the meeting are related to exchanges between and discussions concerning 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 cooperation between tourism operators.

The ministerial meeting will conclude with the announcement of "Macao Declaration", the event's key achievement.