world tourism cities federation (wtcf)

World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), which was voluntarily formed by famous tourism cities and tourism-related institutions in the world under the initiative of Beijing, is the world’s first international tourism organization focusing on cities. Established on 15 September 2012 in Beijing, its headquarters and Secretariat of WTCF are based in Beijing, and Chinese and English are its official languages.

Guided by the core vision of Better City Life through Tourism, WTCF provides services to its members that cover the entire tourism industrial chain. It aims to facilitate exchanges and cooperation among members, spread the experience of tourism city development, promote tourism products and resources, and contribute to the development and prosperity of world tourism industry. Starting with 58 founding members, WTCF has now grown into an international tourism organization with 128 city members, 65 institutional members and 6 branches. City members cover 62 countries and territories. Its institutional members include travel agencies, mass media, airports, airline companies, hotel groups, cruise companies and financial firms. With its growing appeal, capacity, leadership and influence in the tourism industry, WTCF is credited as the fastest-growing international tourism organization.

In the future, WTCF will continue to promote win-win development between and among cities and institutions and build a wider platform for all members.

First Level

• Global News

Destinations

• City Members
• Institutional Members

Sub-committees

• Member Services

Feature Report

• Investment Information Platform
• Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit

Second Level

• Institutional News
• Themed Travel
• Expert Committee
• Committee of Civil Aviation
• Committee of Tourism-Related Businesses
• Committee of Media Organizations
• Committee of Cruise Industry
• Committee of Investment
• WTCF Reports
• WTCF Academic Achievement
• Interview with Senior Leaders
• Interview with City Members
• Interview with Institutional M
• Exhibition & Other Activity
• City Promotion & Special Subjects
• City Member Video
• Institutional Member Video
• Organizations
• Media Reports
• WTCF Interns

Home > News > WTCF News > >Content

WTCF Releases Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2021)

On 1 march, 2021, the world tourism cities federation released the report on world tourism economy trends (2021) in beijing. as wtcf s fifth annual report on trends, it detailed a comprehensive analysis on the world tourism economic trends, changes to regional and developmental patterns, characteristics of major countries, developmental trends of key industries and strategies for recovery of global cities from a multitude of national, industrial, and municipal perspectives., release time : 2021-03-01 16:07:00, source : wtcf.

On 1 March, 2021, the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) released the Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2021) in Beijing. As WTCF's fifth annual report on trends, it detailed a comprehensive analysis on the world tourism economic trends, changes to regional and developmental patterns, characteristics of major countries, developmental trends of key industries and strategies for recovery of global cities from a multitude of national, industrial, and municipal perspectives.

2020 was truly an eventful year. The globe was caught off guard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the hardest-hit industry was tourism which relies heavily on the movement and communication among people. Most countries and regions put a ban on travel so global tourism faced various challenges in the demand of consumption, investment, regional patterns, the industrial chain, business survival, and employment as a result.

As the world's first global tourism organization centered on cities, WTCF is devoted to the core concept of Better City Life through Tourism. The organization strives to promote cooperation and exchanges among global cities, improve their competitiveness and influence, while enhancing the continuous development of the world's tourism economy. Faced with daunting challenges amid the epidemic, WTCF and the Tourism Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences jointly conducted research on projections of the world's tourism sector in the year of 2021 and released the Report on the World Tourism Economy Trends (2021). The report depicts the latest research and insight into the developmental characteristics and trends of 20 major countries amid the epidemic, thus providing essential reference and support for the governments, relevant cities and the industry as a whole.

According to the report, amid the epidemic, the number of trips (both domestic and international) made around the world dropped by 40.8% year on year to 7,278 million in 2020. In the

same year, the total revenues of global tourism decreased to 2.92 trillion dollars and accounted for 3.6% of the global GDP, showing a sharp decline and reaching the lowest level ever since the Second World War. However, it is predicted that the number of trips made around the world will reach 9,545 million in 2021, showing a year-on-year increase of 31.1%. Moreover, the total revenues of global tourism will climb back to 4.50 trillion dollars in 2021 and increase by 53.9%. The two numbers will account for 77.7% and 75.6% of the levels in 2019 respectively. Notably, domestic tourism will play a key role in promoting the growth of the world tourism economy.

Though the global epidemic is not entirely under control, the improvements in vaccinations around the world bring optimism, in addition to global tourism showing gradual signs of recovery. WTCF is fully confident in the revitalization of the industry and will continue to battle through this condition with those of kindred spirit and support.

Click the photo to check the video presentation of Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2021)

世界旅游城市联合会版权所有 备案号：京ICP备12013050号-2 Our legal counselors: lawyer Song Yunfeng& lawyer He Wen both from Dacheng Law Offices

Capital to co-host tourism summit for first time in Australasia

Wellington will co-host the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Summit next week, with around 300 delegates from over 40 countries attending the event at Tākina Convention & Exhibition Centre.

WTCF is the world’s first international tourism organisation focused on cities.

Founded in 2012 in Beijing, it has grown to nearly 250 members, including 168 city members and 81 associate and institutional members from 86 countries.

At this year’s event in Wellington, delegates, including international city leaders and members from the tourism industry, will hear from speakers on promoting sustainable city tourism, sharing the economic benefits brought about by tourism for their cities, and showcase the latest research and reports on world tourism economy and trends.

The event, the first of its kind in New Zealand, is one of the outcomes from Mayor Tory Whanau’s visit to Asia last year.

“ This event is an opportunity to showcase Aotearoa and regional tourism , and promote Wellington as a great place to do business, study and visit – attracting more investors, students, tourists and workers to our city,” says the Mayor .

“It’s also quite a coup co-hosting this event for the first time in Australasia, and fitting that it’s at Tākina , further demonstrating the value of the venue, and its on-going contribution to the local economy.”

The event will be held from April 21 to 24, with Mayor Whanau, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis, Mayor of Petra Fares Braizat, and Sima Hong, the Vice Mayor of Beijing and the Executive Vice Chairman of WTCF Council, among the distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony and delivering speeches.

16 April 2024

City Nature Challenge 2024 is a walk in the park

Get out and about and discover biodiversity with the City Nature Challenge.    

17 April 2024

Wellington is all action stations for the Faultline Ultra Festival

The mega Faultline Ultra Festival is coming to the capital this weekend – here's what you need to know.

11 April 2024

Winning company announced for redevelopment in Te Ngākau Civic Square

Council selects Precinct Properties as preferred developer for Te Ngākau Civic Square sites.

Related links

• World Cities Federation Tourism Summit

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Share this content.

• Share this article on facebook
• Share this article on twitter
• Share this article on linkedin

City Tourism Performance Research

• All Regions
• ISBN 978-92-844-1960-9
• N PAG. 978-92-844-1960-9

The UNWTO-WTCF City Tourism Performance Research is a compilation of 15 city cases which includes a set of key urban tourism performance indicators and an in-depth analysis of each city in areas related to the economic impact of tourism, sustainability or the use of new technologies in the measurement and management of urban tourism.

UNWTO and the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) jointly launched the ‘UNWTO-WTCF City Tourism Performance Research’, an instrument with a set of criteria and a platform for exchange of information to benchmark tourism performance in urban destinations. The research focused on the following areas:

• Destination Management
• Economic Impact
• Social and Cultural Impact
• Environmental Impact
• Technology & New Business Models

City Case Studies

• Buenos Aires

Technical Workshops

• Tianjin Workshop, 2 September 2017
• Buenos Aires Workshop, 26 September 2017
• More information on the City Tourism Performance Research

•   Download here

Related Content

Africa news issue 23, un tourism news 82: sustainable development of tourism, am news | vol. 63 april 2024, un tourism news 81: global tourism investments trends a....

6th floor, No 3 Dongbinhe Road Deshengmen Street Beijing 100120 Xicheng District China

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.wtcf.org.cn

• Total number of liaisons: 1
• A liaisons : 1
• B liaisons : 0
• C liaisons : 0

Liaisons A: Organizations that make an effective contribution to the work of the technical committee or subcommittee for questions dealt with by this technical committee or subcommittee.  Liaisons B: Organizations that have indicated a wish to be kept informed of the work of the technical committee or subcommittee.  Liaisons C: Organizations that make a technical contribution to and participate actively in the work of a working group.

• Taking part
• Who develops standards
• Organizations in cooperation