Program & Call for Papers -- Location, Venue & Travel -- Abstracts & Publishing -- Registration -- About
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
![]() Chinese Outbound Tourism: Context, Perspective and Prospects
Dr. Honggang Xu Professor of Tourism, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China Professor Honggang Xu has been a key faculty member in making Sun Yat-Sen University a leader in tourism research. She is a senior Editor for the journal, Tourism Geographies, and has published widely in leading international journals with her students and colleagues in China and abroad, and is a frequent presenter at international tourism and geography conferences around the world. She was a guest editor in for a fascinating special issue of Tourism Geographies (2014, v.16 #5) on recent tourism geography research in China. Some of her papers and profile can be found at ResearchGate.net. |
Abstract
The rising Chinese outbound tourism is one of the most important phenomena for the global tourism industries and tourism societies in recent years. However, the large scale of Chinese outbound tourists only started recently, after the Chinese opening policy and especially when Chinese government formerly permit the group package tour to foreign countries with the Approved Destination Status policy. While the Chinese outbound tourists have brought opportunities to destination counties, challenges and issues are also emerging both to the Chinese society and the destination societies. This study would like to present the historical development of Chinese outbound tourism, including the policies on Chinese outbound tourism, the patterns of Chinese outbound tourism and identified features of Chinese outbound tourism, based on the secondary data and literature. Yet the emphasis would be placed on the recent development and trend. This study argues that both more cooperation among the Chinese side and the destination countries are needed to enable a sustainable development through Chinese tourism activities. Finally, some of observations of Chinese tourists to Sri-lank will also be discussed. |
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & EVENTS

Tourism and Cross-Cultural Understanding
Dr. Alan A. Lew
Chair of the Department of Geography, Planning and Recreation, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Alan A. Lew is a Professor of Geography and Public Planning in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation at Northern Arizona University where he teaches courses in geography, urban planning and tourism. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the Tourism Geographies journal and has published several books on geography and tourism, including Tourism Geography, 3rd edition, and is a Fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. His interests and writings focus on tourism across East and Southeast Asia.
Dr. Alan A. Lew
Chair of the Department of Geography, Planning and Recreation, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Alan A. Lew is a Professor of Geography and Public Planning in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation at Northern Arizona University where he teaches courses in geography, urban planning and tourism. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the Tourism Geographies journal and has published several books on geography and tourism, including Tourism Geography, 3rd edition, and is a Fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. His interests and writings focus on tourism across East and Southeast Asia.
CONFERENCE FIELD TRIP
- The field trip will visit
- Handagriya National Park
- Handagriya Traditional Village
- Bellanbandi Palassa Archaeological Site (site of Balangoda Man)
- The trip will end with a Sri Lankan theme night at Seelogama, a homestay tourism village in Belihuloya.
- This field trip is for International Participants only. Domestic participants who wish to join the field trip will need to register as an International Participant.
Additional Special Speakers & Events - To Be Announced