University of Macau held the 2022 Inaugural Frontiers in Hospitality and Tourism Annual Research Symposium - Faculty of Business Administration

The inauguration ceremony for the China Tourism Education cum the Inaugural Frontiers in Hospitality and Tourism Annual Research Symposium was held on October 21, 2022 at the University of Macau. The alliance was jointly initiated and established by the University of Macau (UM), Fudan University, Nankai University, and Sun Yat-sen University (sorted by the pinyin of the name of the universities). With the support of various industry partners and supporting units, the symposium was held in a hybrid mode and attracted over 250 hospitality and tourism management scholars, researchers, industry management and students.

Group photo of the participants

At the ceremony, Lei Wai Nong, secretary for economy and finance of the Macau SAR, presented certificates to representatives of the execution departments of the four member departments of the alliance, namely the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management of UM’s Faculty of Business Administration, the Department of Tourism of Fudan University, the College of Tourism and Service Management of Nankai University, and the School of Business of Sun Yat-sen University. Yonghua Song, rector of UM; Ge Wei, vice rector of UM and interim dean of the FBA; Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macau Government Tourism Office; Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy; and Qian Jiannong, global partner of Fosun as well as chairman and CEO of Fosun Tourism Group, witnessed the inauguration of the alliance either online or in-person. They also joined the opening ceremony for the Inaugural Frontiers in Hospitality and Tourism Annual Research Symposium.

Lei Wai Nong presented certificates to representatives of the alliance

The theme of the Symposium this year was “Tourism +”. To discuss cutting-edge topics in tourism theory and practical development and to explore the possibilities for ” Tourism +” innovative development, the symposium invited three keynote speakers as well as many academic experts, industry elites, educators and students. In addition, this symposium served as a platform to facilitate communication between universities and enterprises, and to promote academic and academia-industry collaborations in the field of hospitality and tourism management.

In his remarks, Song said that UM, along with Fudan University, Nankai University, and Sun Yat-sen University, jointly established the China Tourism Education Alliance to enhance regional cooperation in tourism management and nurture tourism professionals through combining the strengths in teaching and research of flagship universities and institutions in China. In addition, he hoped that the symposium would gather experts, scholars, and professionals in related fields from different countries and regions to discuss pressing issues in tourism theory and practice and propose collaborative, innovative, and sustainable solutions to these issues.

Yonghua Song, rector of UM

The Macau Government Tourism Office’s Director, Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, then gave a keynote on the topic of “The development and trend of “Tourism +” in Macau,” noting that the MGTO has always been dedicated to strengthening the connections among” Tourism +” and various fields, particularly in the areas of “Tourism + E-commerce”, “Tourism + Sports” and “Tourism + MICE “. She hopes that the symposium will successfully promote and enhance the high-quality development of the local tourism industry. The symposium’s theme is an excellent match for the new circumstances and challenges that the Macau tourism market is currently facing.

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office

The discussion on “Tourism + Upgrade and Transformation” was led by Mr. Qian Jiannong, Global Partner of Fosun as well as Chairman and CEO of Fosun Tourism Group. He used the practice of Fosun Tourism Group as a vivid example, analyzed the current tourism consumption trend, and shared diversified thinking in light of the current situation of Macau’s tourism development. The President of the China Tourism Academy, Professor Dai Bin, continued by elaborating on the “China’s perspective and international expression of the world tourism and leisure center,” exploring the development of “Tourism +” in Macau and the positioning of the city as a world center of tourism and leisure.

Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy

Qian Jiannong, global partner of Fosun as well as chairman and CEO of Fosun Tourism Group

During the symposium, attendees discussed eight topics around the theme of “Tourism+”, such as “the integration of industry and education, the development of “Tourism +” in Macau, tourism marketing, and tourism data mining,” and started a dialogue and in-depth discussion with a multi-dimensional perspective. All of the experts and academics were fully engaged in the symposium and shared their unique and critical views, which also provided new insights for the development of “Tourism + IT,” “Tourism + Agriculture,” and “Tourism + Other Sectors”. As the co-organizer of the Inaugural Frontiers in Hospitality and Tourism Annual Research Symposium and member of the China Tourism Education Alliance, the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management intends to make this symposium as an annual event with unique insights and fulfilling academic experience, hoping that the symposium can feature a dynamic range of tourism-related topics that are critical, timely and cutting-edge.

Current Sessions

Guests who attended the ceremony for the inauguration of the alliance and the opening of the symposium included Xu Hong, dean of the College of Tourism and Service Management of Nankai University; Liu Jingyan, professor in the School of Business of Sun Yat-sen University; Han Xiaoyun, director of the tourism and health management teaching and research unit of the School of Business of Sun Yat-sen University; Wu Chenguang, deputy director of the tourism and health management teaching and research unit of the School of Business of Sun Yat-sen University; Wang Sha, associate professor in the Department of Tourism of Fudan University; Philip Cheng, director of Galaxy Entertainment Group; Akiko Takahashi, executive vice president and chief of staff to chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited; Sam Chongnin, vice president of corporate communications and community affairs of Sands China Limited; Barry Ip, vice president of learning and advancement of Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace; Gregorio Thio, vice president of club marketing of Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace; Zhu Jie, deputy general manager of Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Group Co Ltd; Li Huanran, deputy general manager of Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Culture and Media Co Ltd; Liu Jun, dean of the School of Tourism Management of South China Normal University; Qiu Hanqin, dean of the School of International Culture and Tourism of Zhejiang University City College; Jiang Qingrong, party secretary of the School of Tourism Management of Zhuhai City Polytechnic; Ben Koh, dean of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management of the Macau University of Science and Technology; Li Xi, executive associate dean of the Faculty of International Tourism and Management of the City University of Macau; Davis Fong, director of the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming of UM; Rob Law, deputy director of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics and Management of UM; Amy So Siu Ian, assistant dean of the FBA of UM; Miao Li, head of the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management of the FBA of UM; and Wang Ruibing, director of the Global Affairs Office of UM.