• Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Conference 2012 concluded

    April 5, 2012
    Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Conference 2012 concluded

    Boao, Hainan– The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2012 concluded in Boao, a scenic town and the permanent site of the BFA, in China’s southernmost island province of Hainan.

    Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the conference, which this year adopts the theme “Asia in the Changing World: Moving toward Sound and Sustainable Development.”

    An international non-governmental, non-profit organization, BFA is a forum for government, business and academic leaders in Asia and other continents to share opinions on pressing issues in the region and the world. It is committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals.

    Major events in the history of the BFA include:
    Feb. 27, 2001: The BFA was officially established, with the Declaration on the BFA adopted by delegates from 26 founding members. Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin addressed the forum, and presented a poem at the inauguration ceremony.
    April 11, 2002: An 11-member board of directors for the BFA was elected, with former Philippine President Fidel Ramos as chairman and former Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Zhang Xiang as secretary-general.
    April 12-13, 2002: The first BFA annual conference was held with the theme “New Century, New Challenge, A New Asia.” It was attended by more than 1,900 delegates from 48 countries and regions. Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
    Nov. 2-3, 2003: The BFA Annual Conference 2003 was held, with the theme “A Win-Win for Asia: Development through Cooperation.” Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao addressed the opening ceremony.
    April 24-25, 2004: The annual conference was held, with the theme “A Win-Win for Asia: Asia Opens Up to the World.” Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
    April 22-24, 2005: The annual conference was held, with the theme “Asia Searching for the Win-Win: Asia’s New Role.” Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top advisory body, delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
    April 21-23, 2006: The annual conference was held, with the theme “New Opportunities for Asia: Driving Growth to the Next Level.” Former Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong delivered the keynote speech.
    April 20-22, 2007: The annual conference was held, with the theme “Asia Winning in Today’s Global Economy — Innovation and Sustainable Development.” China’s top legislator Wu Bangguo delivered the keynote speech.
    April 11-13, 2008: The annual conference was held, with the theme “Green Asia: Moving toward Success through Change.” President Hu delivered the keynote speech.
    April 17-19, 2009: The annual conference was held, with the theme “Asia: Managing Beyond Crisis.” Premier Wen delivered the keynote speech.
    April 9-11, 2010: The annual conference was held, with the theme “Green Recovery: Asia’s Realistic Choice for Sustainable Growth.” Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping delivered the keynote speech.
    April 14-16, 2011: The annual conference was held, with the theme “Inclusive Development: Common Agenda and New Challenges.” President Hu delivered the keynote speech.-Xinhua

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      Bangkok named Asia’s best

      holiday destination for 2025

      Bangkok has been ranked as the best city to visit in Asia for 2025 by Smart Travel Asia, a leading digital travel magazine, based on the opinions of hundreds of thousands of travellers and readers worldwide.

      The city received the highest votes in the “Best Holiday Destination in Asia” category, retaining its top position for the second consecutive year.

      Smart Travel Asia highlighted Bangkok’s strengths as its 24-hour vibrancy and diverse experiences, including food, culture, shopping, and the friendliness of its people, describing it as a “city full of energy and colour, day and night.”

      The city’s dominance stems from several compelling factors. Bangkok has emerged as a paradise for food enthusiasts, offering everything from legendary street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants and panoramic 360-degree rooftop bars. Its cultural and heritage sites, including the iconic Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho temples, remain major attractions to international tourists.

      Additionally, from luxury malls in the city centre to the Chatuchak weekend market, Bangkok caters to every type of shopper. Affordability and friendliness also play a key role, as Bangkok remains an accessible living cost destination where welcoming smiles continue to charm travellers.

      In the Smart Travel Asia 2025 rankings, Bali (Indonesia) and Tokyo (Japan) shared second place behind Bangkok, while Seoul (the Republic of Korea) and Luang Prabang (Laos) tied for fourth. Thailand further strengthened its tourism appeal with Chiang Mai placing third and Phuket sharing fifth place with Hong Kong (China).

      Having the three cities, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, in the top 10 highlights the diversity and appeal of Thailand’s tourism offerings for travellers worldwide. — VNA/VNS ( Oct.12, 2025)

      India resumes tourist visa for

      Chinese citizens after 5 years

      India announced  that it will open tourist visa applications to Chinese citizens from July 24, 2025. It was the first time in five years since the South Asian country suspended Chinese citizens’ tourist visa applications in February 2020.

      The Embassy of India in China announced via its Sina Weibo account  that, starting from July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment, and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to three Indian visa application centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in South China’s Guangdong Province.

      Responding to the related inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said  that “we take note of this positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.”

      Chinese experts said the latest move taken by the India marks a phased milestone in the easing of relations between the two countries, and creates favorable conditions for further strengthening bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

      On February 2, 2020, India temporarily suspended its e-visa facility for Chinese travelers and foreigners residing in China amid coronavirus outbreak. – Global Times

      Gulf Cooperation Council Tourism 

      Dubai – As tourism destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to grow, involving local communities in destination development has become increasingly vital for long-term success.

      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

      At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry leaders emphasised that sustainable revitalisation of destinations must align tourism investments with community partnerships, cultural authenticity, and immersive guest experiences to provide lasting value for both residents and visitors.

      During the session on “Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation” on the ATM 2025 Global Stage, experts shared insights into building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring tourism growth is both inclusive and enduring.

      Arabian Travel Market 2025, held under the theme “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity”,  featured more than 200 speakers across three content stages and welcomes over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.

      Messe Berlin India launched 

      to drive growth of ITB India 

      Messe Berlin announces the official launch of Messe Berlin India, a newly incorporated subsidiary that underscores the company’s long-term commitment to one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets. Headquartered in Delhi , the new entity will serve as a strategic base for expanding ITB India and launching future projects tailored to the Indian market. With this establishment, Messe Berlin is reinforcing its vision of India as a regional hub for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business growth within the exhibition and events industry.

      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)