Considering the local product, Jean-Claude Baumgarten in the countryside.

Wang Fuyu, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Guizhou Province, presents a gift to Jean-Claude.

During the Fifth Summit of WTTC, held in India, 2005, Jean-Claude presided over a press conference he arranged especially for the Chinese delegation.

Jean-Claude experiences Tibetan etiquette with local youngsters during a visit to a Tibetan-inhabited area.

Jean-Claude visits Tunbao Ancient Town, Guizhou Province.

At the invitation of Chinese tourism agencies, in April 2007 World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President Jean-Claude Baumgarten visited Anshun in the southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou. Greatly impressed by the wondrous natural landscapes, as well as the brilliant Chinese culture, he offered an inscription: “This is spectacular!”
The principal director of one of the world’s two leading tourism organizations, Jean-Claude has visited China on more than one occasion. Known for his insight and professionalism, and endowed with a truly global perspective, on many occasions he has reported on what he sees as an extraordinarily bright future in store for China’s tourism industry. According to his forecast, by 2020 China will hold the position as the world’s largest tourism destination, generating the most influential tourism economy.
During his 2006 visit to Beijing, in cooperation with leading personages in the tourism field on China’s mainland and China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Jean-Claude made a report on travel and tourism on China’s mainland and HKSAR. “Although we would normally wait five or even ten years before returning to a country to update the report, it is clear that China’s travel and tourism industry is moving at the speed of light,” he said. “Therefore, the members of WTTC asked us to return after just three years to update the TSA (Tourism Satellite Accounting) research and forecasts.” Their research achievements, as set forth in the report, were not only widely recognized by nations around the world, but have also drawn special attention on the part of the Chinese government.
Early in 2004, President Jean-Claude revealed why he sought development opportunity and cooperative partners in China. His reasons were mainly based on a report released that year by the WTTC Research Center, which clearly forecast rapid expansion of China’s tourism sector. Over the past decade, China’s tourism has realized an annual growth rate of 10 percent. Such expansion is, of course, a major aspect of China’s domestic tourism economy. But less obvious is the fact that the momentum serves as an important driver in the development of global tourism. Aside from the business factors, the growth of Chinese tourism will also promote the great cause of world peace.
Developing concurrently with China’s tourism economy over the past 10 years were Chinese non-governmental tourism organizations and a group of industry entrepreneurs. From October 17 to 24, 2003, the 15th Summit of the World Tourism Organization was held in Beijing. During the event Wang Ping, a successful representative of Chinese non-governmental tourism economy, and Wang Mingang, a renowned entrepreneur and NPC deputy from HKSAR, had an audience with President Jean-Claude. Wang Ping shared his views on Chinese and global tourism development with Jean-Claude, who detailed the organization and operation of WTTC while expressing enthusiasm for his newly-acquainted Chinese partners. It was also during that meeting that the president accepted an invitation to attend and address the Second Shangri-la Eco Forum to be held by the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) in Yunnan Province.
On September 8, 2004, Jean-Claude attended the Eco Forum and had a pleasant talk with representatives from the local government and Chinese tourism enterprises.
Later he met with officials of the China National Tourism Administration, then went on to deliver numerous speeches across China. He impressed the Chinese partners and the audiences with his great enthusiasm for the nation.
On behalf of the WTTC, in April 2005 Jean-Claude invited Chinese tourism entrepreneurs to participate in the Fifth Summit of WTTC in India. The Chinese delegation generated a great deal of attention during the summit, and many major players in global tourism conferred and executed memos of cooperation with the Chinese delegates. A highlight was President Jean-Claude’s arranging and presiding over a special press conference for the Chinese delegation. It was during the India Summit that the WTTC signed a three-year strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese partners.
On April 3, 2007, accepting an invitation, President Jean-Claude visited Guizhou.
During this three-day visit, Jean-Claude met with officials at the Tourism Administration of Guizhou Province, with the objective of better understanding the abundant natural and cultural resources of Guizhou, as well as the provincial long-term plan on tourism. He also met with Wang Fuyu, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Guizhou Province, and Lu Zhiming, vice-governor of Guizhou.
During a visit to the Dragon Palace Scenic Zone, which features limestone caves, Jean-Claude inscribed words of praise for what he saw: “This is spectacular!” Apart from this, the 18-terraced Huangguoshu Waterfall, the varying potted miniature landscapes, the pleasing songs of the Miao ethnic women, and the ancient towns of hundreds of years greatly impressed the president. After seeing the animal fossils dating back more than 200 million years, Jean-Claude marveled that so many incredible wonders were congregated in Guizhou.
“These precious treasures deserve efforts of faithful conservation and respectful development,” he said. “Modern tourism is not just based on vacations, but is also a demand for experience. Guizhou should be an authentic place with the best preservation of indigenous natural and cultural landscapes, and this will become the region’s most attractive tourism slogan.”
During his investigative tour, Pres-ident Jean-Claude always maintained a friendly, accommodating manner, in spite of the tiring transport from place to place. Few people knew that when climbing along the stone stairway to the Huangguoshu Waterfall, the senior president was suffering from a severe foot disease. Immediately upon returning home, he underwent surgery for his foot.
Jean-Claude says that he has developed a true love for China, and for China’s tourism. And he expresses his enthusiasm for continuing his efforts in further introducing to the world the natural wonders of this land, and the charm of Chinese culture.