The first World Cities Branding Conference was held at MGM COTAI yesterday, and Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong described the event as an important initiative to deepen the “MICE Experience Tour” in Macau.
Lei made the remarks during the opening ceremony of two-day conference, adding that it was of great significance that the first conference is taking place in Macau, as it is one of the central cities of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which could highlight Macau’s unique advantages as a platform for exchange and cooperation between the mainland and cities around the world.
The conference aims to showcase the new image of mainland Chinese cities and cultural tourism brands to the world using Macau as a window through keynote speeches, presentations and roundtable discussions, so as to explore the branding of world-class tourism cities, Lei said.
Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) President Vincent U U Sang, who also attended yesterday’s conference, said that the key to building a city’s brand was to highlight the city’s uniqueness and long-term sustainability, as cities tend to borrow from each other’s strengths and become homogeneous in their development.
U also said that without forward-looking development considerations in city branding, there would be no room for “future” business cooperation and development with other regions, therefore, U pointed out, Macau should support more emerging industries, including the introduction of more internationally renowned convention brands to Macau.
Global Tourism Economy Research Centre President Pansy Ho Chiu-king said she hoped that through the conference, Macau could become a bridge and a platform to radiate globally, promoting cultural, industrial and resource exchanges among world cities and spreading mainland brands to the international stage.
The conference ends today.
Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong addresses yesterday’s opening ceremony of the 1st World Cities Branding Conference, at MGM COTAI yesterday.
– Photo: GCS
