Over 400 tourism leaders from China and the U.S. gathered in Xi'an this week for the 14th China-US Tourism Leadership Summit, sparking fresh dialogue about travel's power to bridge cultures ✈️. Adam Burke, President of the Los Angeles Tourism Board and World Tourism Alliance VP, sat down with NewspaperAmigo to unpack why wanderlust might just be humanity's ultimate superpower.
\"We’re Hard-Wired to Explore\"
Burke dropped truth bombs 💣: \"Psychological studies show not traveling causes depression. There's something deeply embedded in our humanity urging us to explore.\" He revealed post-pandemic travelers now see trips as essential purchases – like avocado toast for the soul 🥑.
LA-Guangzhou: Sister Cities Making Moves
Highlighting 60+ years of cultural ties between LA and Guangzhou, Burke stressed: \"Chinese Americans helped build LA since the 1850s. Tourism helps us find common ground through lived experiences – it's how we move forward together.\" The summit produced new cooperation agreements to boost sustainable travel 🌱.
Tourism’s New Mission
Through his World Tourism Alliance role, Burke champions travel as a force for good: \"From poverty alleviation to climate action – tourism elevates communities globally.\" His takeaway? That Chinese proverb about reading 10,000 books 📚 and traveling 10,000 miles hits different in 2024.
