The International Chinese Tourist Association (ICTA) celebrated its 50th anniversary and held its 48th Overseas Convention in Wuyishan, Nanping City, Fujian province, from October 22 to 25, bringing together nearly 120 members and guests from Hong Kong.
Supported by the Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Nanping City Culture and Tourism Bureau, the four-day programme included trade exchanges, site inspections and cultural visits to nearby areas such as Sanming and Shaxian. Participating Hong Kong travel agents explored opportunities to develop group tours, high-end tailor-made itineraries and study tour programmes.
A half-day convention at Wyndham Garden Fujian Wuyishan on October 23 featured presentations by tourism officials from Nanping and Wuyishan, highlighting Wuyi Mountain’s UNESCO World Heritage status for both cultural and natural significance, as well as developments in tea culture, green tourism and sports tourism.
Joann Zhang, responsible for trade marketing in southern China at the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), presented Hong Kong’s calendar of events. Catherine Mak, business development manager (travel business) at Zurich Insurance, introduced the company’s 24-hour emergency assistance services following Zurich Hong Kong’s integration of AIG’s Travel Guard travel insurance and assistance business.
ICTA is one of eight association members of Hong Kong’s Travel Industry Council and the third-oldest travel trade organisation in the city. It is also among the few associations that continue to organise overseas conventions.
ICTA chairman Teddy Chung emphasised the importance of securing support from local tourism authorities, noting that the association had worked with Fujian tourism officials to organise the event.
“We were referred to Fujian tourism, which had the budget to support us, so it proved to be a good match for both sides. In the past, attendance at our overseas conventions was typically limited to 80 to 90 people. However, we expanded the scale and invited more guests for this landmark occasion. Thanks to convention chairman Alex Yam, it took us four months to plan and organise the trip.
Chung added that the association had invited the Hong Kong Tourism Board to promote Hong Kong and attract inbound visitors, in line with the government’s Bringing in and Going Global initiative. He highlighted the partnerships established with Sanming and Wuyishan, adding that the convention had strengthened tourism cooperation with China under the Belt and Road and Greater Bay Area initiatives.
Several honorary presidents also attended, including 78-year-old Jackie Wong See-sum, founder of the now-defunct Hong Thai Travel Services. Having served three consecutive terms as ICTA chairman, Wong reflected on the association’s history and the role of its overseas conventions in developing business connections.
“I remain the longest-serving chairman in ICTA’s history,” he shared. “The value of holding overseas conventions lies in creating new business opportunities, as they enable members to connect with local tourism authorities, industry stakeholders and potential partners.”
Honorary chairlady Peggy Shum highlighted the convention’s role in encouraging knowledge-sharing between industry veterans and younger members.
She noted: “My company, established in 1957, is still up and running. The tourism landscape is so different now. Although we may be selling the same products, we need to be innovative, develop niche offerings and create distinctive brand propositions to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.”
