Experts convene for World Tourism Alliance dialog to enhance global tourism development

Experts gathered for the 2024 World Tourism Alliance (WTA) Xianghu Dialogue in Sanya City of South China's Hainan Province, discussing strategies to boost tourism recovery and promote diversified developments in the sector.

Themed "Gear up for a New Venture," the event drew in industry leaders and experts from 32 countries and regions, sharing insights on global tourism development. Pansy Ho, Vice Chair of the World Tourism Alliance, emphasized the need to "expand the pie" by integrating culture, technology, finance, and other sectors to meet the diversified requirements of tourists.

"Tourists nowadays seek experiences that are more comprehensive, in-depth, and culturally immersive than ever before," said Ho, during her keynote speech.

Her opinions were echoed by other experts in the tourism industry.

"Meeting the needs of a diverse range of travelers requires us to make tourism products more varied. And that requires the efforts of the whole industry. We should try to provide varied tourism products, catering to individual interests such as independent travel, senior-friendly tourism products, and more," said Tong Teng, vice president of Fliggy, one of China's leading travel platforms.

The dialogue also underscored the tourism sector's role in revitalizing local communities. A joint report with the UN Tourism on local community development and sustainable tourism was released during the event, featuring case studies on how tourism can bolster local economies through arts and culture.

"There's a lack of understanding of what China is, and I would say it's very similar to Los Angeles. I've been to nine different cities in China and every single one of them offers a completely different experience, from regional cuisine, to different arts and culture, to incredible heritage and history. And I think that's is where the similarity is, culture and heritage tourism is an incredible way to revitalize urban destinations around the world," said Adam Burke, vice chair of WTA.

Established in China, the WTA is committed to promoting tourism for peace, development, poverty alleviation, and driving global tourism exchanges and cooperation at a non-governmental level.

Experts convene for World Tourism Alliance dialog to enhance global tourism development

Medical supplies have rapidly dwindled in the Gaza Strip after Israel closed all crossings amid escalating tensions with Iran, leaving hospitals and patients struggling to obtain essential medicines.

Israel announced on Feb. 28 the closure of all crossings into the Gaza Strip, including the Rafah land crossing, until further notice, citing security concerns. The move halted the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The disruption of supply routes has rapidly depleted medicine stocks across the enclave, with many commonly used drugs beginning to run out, placing mounting pressure on hospitals and patients.

Some widely used drugs have already run out at Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza as the staff there are checking remaining supplies.

"This is your medicine, but now it's out of stock," a staff member at the hospital's pharmacy told a patient.

"This type of medicine isn't available at the hospital. I will try to find it elsewhere," said the patient.

The hospital said that more than 85 percent of medical consumables is now out of stock. Painkillers, antibiotics, surgical and anesthetic drugs, as well as diagnostic reagents, are all in severe shortage. Some commonly used medications for chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes have also become difficult to obtain.

"Every day the warehouse informs us that a certain medicine has run out, so we keep searching for alternatives. Patients are also looking everywhere for medicines, but often they still cannot find them," said the head of the medicine warehouse at Al-Awda Hospital.

Crossing closures leave hospitals in Gaza Strip facing shortage of essential medicines