TPO Member Cities Take the Global Stage... Guangzhou Global Marketing

TPO and Member Cities in Guangzhou to Host a Variety of Events in Conjunction with the International Travel Expo
Strengthening Cooperation Among TPO Chinese Member Cities and Expanding Opportunities for Exchange Among Global Tourism Cities

The Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO), chaired by Busan Mayor Park Heongjoon, will hold the "44th Executive Committee Meeting" and the "2025 TPO China Regional Meeting" in Guangzhou, China from May 14 to 17. In addition, TPO plans to set up a joint promotional booth and host a joint briefing session for its member cities.

9th TPO Forum. Provided by the Global Cities Tourism Promotion Organization

This event will be held in conjunction with the Guangzhou International Travel Fair, one of the largest international tourism expos in China. TPO aims to use this opportunity not only to promote its member cities but also to further strengthen the foundation for tourism cooperation among global cities.

Notably, around 60 key tourism policy officials from 16 cities across five countries are expected to gather in Guangzhou for this event, which is anticipated to serve as a hub for global city tourism exchange.

9th TPO Forum.

The 44th Executive Committee Meeting, scheduled for May 14, will be attended by representatives from major executive committee cities, including Busan (the chair city), Sanya (the co-chair city), Guangzhou, and Vladivostok, Russia. The meeting will address key organizational projects and financial matters, discuss cooperation strategies among member cities, and review criteria for selecting future general assembly and forum host cities.

As interest in hosting future TPO general assemblies and forums increases among member cities, the TPO Secretariat will present draft guidelines for host city selection, emphasizing fairness, transparency, and geographical balance as core principles. These guidelines will be reviewed at this executive committee meeting, after which candidate cities will be invited to apply.

The agenda will also focus on the main business plan and budget adjustments for the second half of 2025, a review of the draft annual activity plan for 2026, the establishment of an Innovation Lab, and strategies for launching global campaigns.

Furthermore, as the terms of the chair group and executive committee members end this year, the selection of the next chair group for 2026-2027, the appointment of new executive committee members, and measures to strengthen chair group benefits and enhance the sustainability of organizational operations will be key topics of discussion.

The "2025 TPO China Regional Meeting," to be held on May 15, will bring together about 30 participants, including representatives from Chinese member cities such as Guangzhou, Sanya (co-chair city), Dujiangyan, Lijiang, Foshan, and Qiannan Prefecture, as well as regional tourism organizations and international tourism industry officials.

This regional meeting will focus on strengthening institutional foundations, including the establishment of operational regulations for the regional meeting, the creation of a data-driven Tourism Innovation Lab, and the development of procedures for selecting future host cities. In particular, regarding operational regulations, the meeting will formalize the frequency of meetings, the rights and obligations of member cities, a decision-making structure reflecting regional characteristics, and the operation of the Secretariat to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of TPO activities.

The theme of the meeting is "Marketing and Branding for China's Inbound Tourism Development," with various presentations and discussions scheduled.

In particular, Mr. Guanbing Hao, Business Development and South China Regional General Manager of Trip.com Group, has been invited as a special session speaker to present on tourism trends in international OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) and case studies of inbound tourism in China.

On the afternoon of May 15, the first day of the travel fair, the TPO Joint Promotional Briefing will be held. Member cities will introduce their unique tourism resources and content to local stakeholders, tourism industry professionals, and expo visitors, aiming to further strengthen the international cooperation network among global cities.

This event will feature a total of nine member cities, including Busan, Pohang, Iksan, and Gimhae from Korea; Kota Bharu and Kota Kinabalu from Malaysia; Batu from Indonesia; and Sanya and Dujiangyan from China. These cities will operate the TPO joint promotional booth and conduct tourism marketing activities. Additionally, a TPO lounge will be set up within the booth to serve as a hub for consultations and exchanges among participating cities, and a "Happy Hour Event" will be held to provide networking opportunities.

After the official schedule, there will be various side events, including the "Guangzhou-TPO Night" dinner hosted by Guangzhou and the official GITF buyer dinner, offering further opportunities for exchange and networking among participating cities.

TPO Secretary-General Kang Daeun stated, "This executive committee and regional meeting, held in conjunction with the global platform GITF, will provide a meaningful opportunity not only to strengthen tourism cooperation among member cities but also to develop strategies for entering the Chinese inbound tourism market. We will continue to reinforce the sustainable tourism cooperation network among global cities."

Kim Hyunjae, Director of Tourism and MICE at Busan Metropolitan City, who presided over the executive committee meeting, commented, "As the 44th TPO Executive Committee Meeting and China Regional Meeting are being held alongside GITF, the largest tourism expo in Asia, this is a crucial opportunity to showcase the tourism content of Busan and other member cities to the world. We will actively contribute to the recovery of inbound tourism and the strengthening of tourism networks among East Asian cities through strategic cooperation with major Chinese cities."

Furthermore, the 12th TPO General Assembly will be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from September 3 to 6, and the "2025 Global Cities Tourism Summit" will be held for the first time in Busan from October 27 to 29. Jointly hosted by TPO, Busan Metropolitan City, and the Busan Tourism Organization, these events will promote the exchange of tourism policies among cities and foster international cooperation and networking.

TPO is the only international tourism organization in Korea with its secretariat based in Busan. Currently, 130 cities and 56 private and public organizations from around the world are members. TPO holds regional meetings, general assemblies, forums, and joint projects annually in various countries, leading the development of the tourism industry and the strengthening of global networks among member cities.