TPO: Connecting Cities Worldwide under New Name
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TPO: Connecting Cities Worldwide under New Name
- Tourism Promotion Organization for “Asia Pacific Cities” to “Global Cities”
▶ The new name, “Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities”, decided at the 11th TPO General Assembly in September 2023, effective January 2024▶ Increasing the international stature of Busan as a global hub city through the expansion
□ Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities (TPO) has changed its name to Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO, English abbreviation remains the same).
○ The goal of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities is to broaden the scope of its activities to the global community. This timely change reflects the international trend of increasing cooperation.
□ The TPO (President: Busan Mayor Park) was established in 2002 at the 5th Asian-Pacific City Summit (APCS) in Fukuoka, Japan, by the Mayors of 25 Asian Pacific cities.
Busan played a leading role in the establishment of the Organization, and the city currently serves as the President city of the TPO. Buk-gu, Busan is home to the Secretariat of this international tourism organization which focuses on the promotion of tourism through facilitating cooperation among cities worldwide.
Outline of the TPO(Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities)
○ Establishment: The 5th Asian-Pacific City Summit (August 31, 2002), with 25 cities from 13 countries
○ Mission: Global tourism promotion
○ Members:○ Members: 131 government members, 56 non-government entities (as of January 2024) * Secretary General: Ambassador Woo Kyoung-ha
○ Main activities: Networking in the tourism sector, joint marketing, etc. (Conferences such as the General Assembly, Executive Committee Meetings and Regional Meetings; joint marketing projects, human resource development projects, etc.)
□ The new name was decided at the 11th TPO General Assembly held in Jeonju, Korea, September 2023, effective this year. This move is more than just a change in the name. It can be seen as the Organization’s vow as an international organization, to strengthen cooperation between TPO members, and to contribute to the development of sustainable tourism.
○ In commemorating its 20th anniversary in 2022, the TPO Secretariat (Secretary General: Ambassador Woo Kyoung-ha) carried out a special project, “20 Years of TPO & the Vision for 2050”, which evaluated the Organization’s accomplishments. One of the recommendations in the “Vision 2050” was to expand the borders of the TPO’s activities.
○ After having reflected those relevant advice as well as recommendations, the 11th TPO General Assembly (September 2023, Jeonju) finalized the name change from “Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities” to “Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities.”
□ The name change is the first step to the materialization of the “TPO Vision 2050”, and the Organization plans to broaden its cooperation to cities in Europe, North America, Central and North America, Middle East and Africa. Additionally, this meaningful step is in line with Busan Metropolitan City’s vision for 2024, “Global Hub City”, and the TPO is expected to contribute more to the achievement of Busan’s goal.
○ Especially, Busan Metropolitan City is preparing to organize the 42nd TPO Executive Committee Meeting on the margin of the Busan International Tourism City Forum which is scheduled for the first half of this year. The city is also expected to cooperate with the Organization in several of its projects, including the Human Resource Development Project, which involves international members participating in cultural experiences in the city.
□ TPO President, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon said, “Through TPO’s joint projects and international conferences such as the General Assembly, Executive Committee Meeting, Regional Meetings (in Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.), the TPO will continue to work hard to provide better services for its members and tourists, and to contribute to the development of the tourism sector and the peace of the community.”
