International Conference on Metropolitan Tourism, Shanghai 17-18 November 2006

The International Conference on Metropolitan Tourism which was held in Shanghai, China, from 17-18 November 2006 was the first of UNWTO's three international conferences aimed at providing a blueprint for the development of city tourism in Asia. It was organized in conjunction with the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and Shanghai Institute of Tourism. Discussions centred on various aspects of metropolitan tourism such as capacity-building, safety and security, demand and supply, sustainability in city development, competitiveness of cities and the effect of large festivals and special events on tourism development. Speakers in Shanghai also analysed issues ranging from how best to market and promote cities, (especially to important growth sectors such as the conventions and MICE markets) to the benefits of staging mega events. They also discussed making tourism an integral part of the planning and development process and how to involve the local community.