The 12th Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is scheduled for October 15 to 17, 2026, in Macao, China, under the theme “Crisis • Resilience • Evolution – Building a Tourism Economy for a Shared Future.” Since its inception in 2012, GTEF has hosted 11 editions, drawing more than 15,500 participants from 88 countries and regions. China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism recognizes GTEF as a national strategic platform for expanding global cultural tourism engagement.
Global tourism encounters challenges from geopolitical tensions, climate pressures, and economic volatility. However, international tourist arrivals reached a record 1.52 billion in 2025, according to UN
Tourism data. In response, the United Nations has declared 2027 the “International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism” to promote durability within the sector.
The 2026 forum will focus on five pillars: Resilient Governance, Technology and Innovation, The New Traveller, Culture and Identity, and Sustainable Growth. Spain will participate as Partner Country, sharing expertise in destination governance and sustainable practices. Hainan Province is featured for showcasing its Free Trade Port customs operations and enhanced visa-free policies to foster tourism.
The forum uses an integrated “MICE + Delegation Visit” format, with events including cultural tourism promotions, themed dinners, world heritage culinary
tours, and wellness tourism site visits in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. This supports collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for multi-destination tourism itineraries and investment facilitation.
Separately in Melbourne, Australia, Next Green Group (NGG) completed a 1.3 MW rooftop solar installation at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), managed by the State Sport Centres Trust and owned by the State Electricity Commission (SEC). This system, using AIKO’s Comet series All Back Contact (ABC) modules, exceeds the original 850 kW project capacity by more than 50% and began operating in September 2026.
MSAC has a
complex curved roof with shading from structural elements limiting standard solar panel placement. NGG utilized AIKO’s ABC technology, certified Class A for partial shading resistance by TÜV Rheinland, enabling effective power generation in shaded areas. The flush-mount design preserved the building’s curved roofline and allowed installation of 2,016 AIKO mono-glass modules, each weighing 28 kg, adding approximately 56 tonnes to the roof.
The system is projected to generate over 1 gigawatt-hour of renewable electricity annually, covering about 25% of MSAC’s electricity needs, including pools, spa, sauna, and scoreboards. The Victorian Government estimates the solar installation will save MSAC around $70,000
per year.
Thomas Bywater, Head of AIKO Australia & New Zealand, stated, “At MSAC, every square metre had to earn its place.” He added that the ABC technology allowed an increase in solar capacity despite shading and structural constraints.
