The World Tourism Organization (WTO) selected Guilin of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region as the permanent host city for the World Tourism Trends Conference, according to the Guangxi Tourism Bureau.

Headed by Chen Jianjun, director of the Guangxi Tourism Bureau, the Guangxi tourism delegation met WTO secretary-general ad interim Taleb Rifai in late June to discuss several issues, including holding the World Tourism Trends Conference and the 2nd International Forum on Tourism Education. Designating Guangxi as a pilot area for poverty alleviation through tourism, and turning the Guilin Institute of Tourism into an international tourism school were also reviewed.

(China Daily July 15, 2009)