Following several years of high visibility research, industry events and awareness building of travel and tourism's economic contribution in China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has now welcomed two Chinese Members to the Council.

The WTTC is a forum for business leaders in the travel and tourism industry. With Chief Executives of about one hundred of the world's leading travel and tourism companies as its members, WTTC has a unique mandate and overview on all matters related to travel and tourism.

WTTC works to raise awareness of travel and tourism as one of the world's largest industries, employing about 200 million people and generating over 10% of world GDP.

The three new members of the WTTC are Hong Kong and Macau based. Pansy Ho is Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Ltd. From the Beijing Tourism Group comes the Chariman, Duan Qiang, and the President, Mei Yunxin.

The Council's new Chinese Members signal the growing support for WTTC's extensive agenda of economic research and policy activities in China and continuing efforts to translate the potential for growth into long-term industry development and job creation.

Most recently, WTTC has signed a cooperative agreement with the Chamber of Tourism Commerce in China (TCC), to update and extend its recent groundbreaking Country Report for China and Hong Kong SAR. The focus of the new project will include China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and several other Chinese regions selected for an in-depth study of the regional impact of travel and tourism as well as deeper analysis of national and regional policy issues, which are limiting the growth of travel and tourism in China.