On 17 December 2021, the Second GBA Smart Tourism Forum was successfully held online and offline at the SHTM. The Forum was organised by the SHTM and its Hospitality and Tourism Research Centre together with STR, and was supported by the School of Tourism Management of Sun Yat-sen University and the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies and sponsored by the University Grants Committee, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Pacific Asia Travel Association. The Forum was run by a group of talented undergraduate students from the SHTM's Special Events Class.
Building on the success of the inaugural Forum, the Second Forum featured the theme "Connectivity and Sustainability for Better Travel Experiences" and provided a unique platform for researchers and key stakeholders in the region to share their experiences and discuss how the integration of technology and travel in the GBA can increase travellers' access to transboundary destinations, facilitate their responsive processes and enrich their travel experiences by providing ubiquitous information and service environments.
The Forum's opening address was delivered by Professor Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU President, and Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean and Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management. This was followed by Knowledge Sharing Keynotes 1, entitled "Smart Tourism Research and Applications", which was chaired by Professor Haiyan Song, SHTM Associate Dean, Chair Professor and Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism. Professor Song was joined by three keynote speakers: Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, SHTM Visiting Professor; Mr Steve Hood, STR's Senior Vice President of Research and Founding Director of the SHARE Centre; and Dr Zheng Xiang, Department Head and Associate Professor, The Howard Feiertag Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
The next session was Knowledge Co-creation – Panel Discussion I, entitled "Designing Smart Tourism Products and Services", which was chaired by Professor Qiuju Luo, Associate Dean and Professor, School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University. The session's panellists were Dr Zhuowei Huang, Associate Professor, Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, Sun Yat-sen University; Dr Cindia Lam, Assistant Professor, Macao Institute for Tourism Studies; Mr William Soo, Senior Vice President, Information Technology, Sands China Ltd.; and Mr Bowen Sun, General Manager of Inbound Tourism and Executive Secretary General of the Trip.com Group.
The second panel discussion, entitled "Developing 'Connected' Travel Experiences", was chaired by Dr Dan Wang, SHTM Associate Professor. Invaluable insights were provided by the panellists: Ms Xiaoyu Cheng, Founder and CEO, Lushu Technology; Mr Vallois Choi, Director of Marketing, Hotel ICON; Professor Rob Law, UMDF Chair Professor of Smart Tourism, University of Macau; and Dr Mimi Li, SHTM Associate Professor.
The Forum concluded with the second keynote session, entitled "Smart Tourism Innovations – Challenges and Prospects", which was chaired by Dr Fanny Vong, President of the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies. Insights were provided by Ms Natalia Bayona, Director of Innovation, Education and Investment, United Nations World Tourism Organisation; Mr Daniel Chun, Vice President, Smart City Consortium and Executive Director, Smart City Academy; and Ms Sarah Mathews, Head, Media Partnerships APAC, TripAdvisor.
The SHTM is very proud to have organised the Second GBA Smart Tourism Forum this year. The Forum provided an excellent platform for stakeholders from around the world to actively exchange knowledge to sustainably co-create value for the region. The School will continue to spare no effort to support and drive the sustainable development of the industry both regionally and
worldwide.
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