I Asian Tourism Congress

Barcelona, 25th and 26th of September 2008
CaixaForum
Av. Marquès de Comillas, 6-8
08038 Barcelona

Asia is at present one of the driving forces of the tourism industry. The continent is home to over 50% of the world’s population however up until recently it was not considered an appealing outbound market due to the low incomes and slow development. Nowadays the outlook has clearly changed. In addition to the Japanese and Korean who have been traveling to Europe for decades now, the Chinese and Indian are begging to travel as well. The populations of these two countries combined add up to 2.500 million people, reason for which the WTO forecasts India and China will become two of the most important tourism outbound markets over the coming decades. On the other hand, last year Asia welcomed already 20.6% of the total international tourism an increase of more than 4 points from the year 2000 (16.2%)

In this context, the Ist Congress on Asian Tourism will be held in Barcelona on the 25th and 26th of September 2008 with the goal of:

Highlighting the opportunities the Asian market represents for Spain through the analysis of the demand, need to adapt to the new markets and tourism growth forecasts.

Gather the opinion of the heads of promotion boards and the tourism distribution channel in order to share experiences and best practices so that all the European tourism industry can benefit of the potential Asia has to offer.

The Congress is addressed to hotel companies, tour operators, airlines, restaurants, retail trade, heads of promotion and cultural boards of the public and private sector as well as those interested in Asia as an inbound or outbound tourism market.

25th of September 2008

9.00 h - 09.30 h OPENING CEREMONY

Jesús Sanz, Casa Asia Director General
Antoni Bernabé, General Director of Turespaña
Josep Huguet, Councilor of Innovation, University and Companies
Jordi Hereu, Mayor of Barcelona

09.30 h - 10.30 h ASIAN TOURISM IN SPAIN AND AROUND THE WORLD

This round table will analyze the evolution of the Asias tourism over the past few years and the future outlook, the present situation and Spain’s expectations of Asian tourism which isn’t at the moment one of the preferred destinations.

Asian Tourism from a European and world perspective

Xu Jing, Representative of the area of Asia-Pacific, World Tourism Organization

Asian Tourism in Spain

Álvaro Blanco, General Assistant Director of planning and coordination of the Spanish Offices of Tourism (OETS)

Moderator: Ángel Diaz, CEO Advanced Leisure Services

10:30 h -11:00h Coffee Break

11.00 h - 12.30 h ASIA AS AN OUTBOUND MARKET. Outlook from destinations

Some European destinations have managed to attract the attention of Asian tourism. It is important to get to know their strategies and to generate shared experiences that will allow Europe to hold the position as the first destination for Asian tourists in the following years.

Paul Roll, Paris Office of Tourism and Congresses General Manager Director
James Bidwell, CEO Visit London
Josep Antón Rojas, Promotion Manager Turisme de Barcelona
Javier Oyarzábal, General Coordinator of Economy, Madrid City Council
Moderator: Ignasi de Delàs, Turisme de Catalunya Director

12:30 h -14:00 h ASIA AS AN OUTBOUND MARKET. Outlook from entrepreneurs

Asian tourism growth in Europe is a great challenge for the European tourism industry; efforts will have to be made in creating new services, innovative marketing strategies and to constantly improve the quality and policies of customer service.

Rosita Yiu, Representative of the chain Accor
Laura Chavarra, Responsible Tourism Value Retail Espaa
Eckard Kremer, Managing Director of Pacific Leisure Group
Carla Salvadó, Port of Barcelona Cruise Director
Silvia Nel·lo, Director of Marketing Gal·la-Dalí Foundation

Moderator: Francisco Menor, General Manager ACS Foundation

14:00 h -15:30 h Lunch

16:00 h -18:00 h ASIA AS AN OUTBOUND MARKET. Middleman channel and air traffic connections
Airlines: Singapore Air lines, Korean Airlines

It is critical to get to know the needs and priorities of travel agencies and the Asian tour operators, the short-term objectives and the operative difficulties airlines face.

Liu Wuxiong Vicepresident CITS China Internacional Travel Service
Guo Junhua China Senior Deputy Manager CYTS M.I.C.E. Service
Suresh Puri, Managing Director & CEO Spice Travel India
Carlos Arsequell, Commercial Director of Singapore Airlines Spain
Jordi Solé, coordinator of the Committee for the Development of Barcelona Air Route Development Commitee (CDRA) and Commercial and marketinf Director of Airports of Catalonia

Moderator: Amadeo Jensana, Director of the Department of Economic Programmes and Cooperation, Casa Asia

26th of September 2008

9:00 h -10:30 h ASIA AS AN INBOUND MARKET. Distribution channel and tourism investments

Before the great opportunity that is presented, and before the enormous challenges that it represents for its traditional business parameters, great tourist companies are establishing themselves in the Asian continent, with different degrees of involvement, specialized by market segments and geographical location.

Luis del Olmo, Vice president Meliá Hotels
Matilde Torres, Catai Tours President
John McEwan, Managing Director of Advantage

Moderator: Joan Serra,

10:30 h -11:00 h Coffee Break

11:00 h -12:30 h CULTURAL AND LEGAL CONSTRAINTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASIAN TOURISM IN SPAIN

Spain is the main destination for sea and sun tourism. Asian tourist are different, they look for singular products and services. Spain, even if a reference for Japanese tourist is not positioned in the rest of the Asian markets as a first choice destination.

Enrique Ruiz de Lera, Director of OET Singapore
Antonio de la Morena, Director of OET China
Antonio Li, Director of CPT China
Shoji Yoshida,First Secretary and Head of Department of Economics, Embassy of Japan in Spain
Makoto Kusakabe,Ceo MIKI TRAVEL AGENCY, S.A.

Moderator:

12:30 h -13:30 h CONCLUSIONS AND LINES OF ACTION

There is a great opportunity. There is a great challenge. It is necessary to confront it and be prepared in order to take advantage of the situation. Businessmen and public administration representatives must work together so as to achieve this.

The participants in this table will be the moderators of the previous tables.

Moderator: Alfredo Pastor, Professor at IESE

13:30 h -14:00 h CLOSING CEREMONY

Amadeo Jensana, Director of the Dept. of Economic Programmes and Cooperation, Casa Asia
Joan Carles Vilalta, President, Turisme de Catalunya
Joan Gaspart, President, Turisme de Barcelona

* To be confirmed

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Days of assistance: Day 25 Day 26




	* If you want to register via telephone or e-mail or if you have any question, please contact at tel 93 368 03 41, registration is also possible sending a message to this e-mail address: [email protected]