Over 200 academics and tourism and hospitality professionals drawn from 26 countries and regions recently gathered in Macao for the annual conference of the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA), with UTM acting as co-host. APTA’s meeting is one of the region’s largest annual events for promotion of top-notch research in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The APTA 2024 Conference took place at the Galaxy International Convention Center from 3 to 5 July, marking the conference series’ return to the city, after an edition was first held in Macao in 2010. The APTA 2024 Conference was supported by various organisations, with Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG), an integrated resort operator in Macao, serving as the principal sponsor. Underlining the support for the event, Mr. Francis Lui, Vice Chairman of GEG, attended the opening ceremony with other company representatives. Mr. Lui is also Vice-Chair of the UTM Council.

The APTA 2024 Conference offered a range of discussions and panel sessions covering topics including destination management, tourism marketing, consumer behaviour, cultural and heritage management, lodging management, and tourism and hospitality education.