Regional cooperation is vital to the high-quality and sustainable development of tourism. It promotes optimal allocation and sharing of tourism resources, avoids redundant construction, and improves resource utilization efficiency. At the same time, collaboration can expand tourism markets, share tourist flows, and enhance the region’s overall appeal. Moreover, cooperation drives the coordinated development of tourism with other industries, innovates tourism products, and enhances the tourism experience. Through joint planning, it can improve tourism infrastructure and public services and raise service standards. Policy coordination and standard harmonization help create a fair and orderly tourism market environment. In the face of challenges, regional cooperation strengthens resilience and sustains stable tourism development. Especially amid rising protectionism and heightened geopolitical competition, steadfastly advancing regional tourism cooperation is not only a key measure to resist external uncertainties and build a safeguard for “domestic circulation”, but also an inevitable strategic choice to grasp regional rule-making power and achieve mutual benefit. Meanwhile, the booming creative economy and the power of technology represented by AI are reshaping regional tourism cooperation on an unprecedented scale.
In the field of regional tourism, the "International Symposium on Regional Tourism Collaboration and Partnerships (RTCP)" and the "Greater Bay Area and China-ASEAN Tourism Research and Education Forum (GCAT)" are important international academic exchange platforms. This joint conference (RTCP-GCAT 2026) aims to leverage synergistic advantages by bringing together global tourism scholars, policymakers, industry leaders, and practitioners to jointly explore new models, new strategies, new challenges, and opportunities for regional tourism cooperation, and to promote resource sharing, market integration, and cultural exchange. The joint event is organized by the Macao University of Tourism and the School of Tourism at Sun Yat-sen University, and will be held from November 27 to 30, 2026 in the Macao Special Administrative Region of China and the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Macao is positioned as a world center of tourism and leisure, a platform for commercial and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a base for exchange and cooperation with Chinese culture, as the mainstream and diverse cultures coexisting. It holds a unique position and advantages in telling China’s story, presenting China’s image, and enhancing civilizational mutual learning. Hengqin and Macao sit just across the water from each other, with highly complementary cultural and tourism resources. In the context of building the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, the deep, all-around integration of Macao and Hengqin is becoming a model for leading China’s cultural and tourism industries towards a higher level of openness and institutional innovation.
We welcome contributions addressing any facet of regional tourism. Submissions that explore the conference theme—particularly at the intersection of regional synergy, technology empowerment, and cross-sector convergence—are highly encouraged.
The joint conference will be held on November 27-30, 2026:
| Date | Activities | Venue |
| November 27 |
Registration (Hengqin) |
Macao University of Tourism (Dezhi Plaza Campus in Hengqin) |
| November 28 | Registration (Hengqin) RTCP Opening Ceremony Keynote Speeches Parallel Sessions 1-5 Symposium Summary |
Macao University of Tourism (Dezhi Plaza Campus in Hengqin) |
| November 29 |
Registration (Macao) |
Macao University of Tourism (Taipa Campus in Macao) |
| November 30 |
Registration (Macao) |
Macao University of Tourism (Taipa Campus in Macao) |
| Abstract submission |
By October 15, 2026 |
| Early bird registration deadline |
By October 30, 2026 |
| Full paper submission (optional) |
By November 10, 2026 |
We cordially invite researchers and practitioners from the international tourism community. We look forward to seeing you in November at Macao and Hengqin. Should you have any enquiries, please email us at: RTCP-GCAT2026@163.com