World Geotourism Conference
Zhengzhou, China, October 2014

China is one of the founding countries of the global geopark movement. The Global Geoparks Network (GGN) is located in China’s Ministry of Land and Resources. There are 29 Global Geoparks in China, which is the country with the largest number of global geoparks in the world (there are only 100 ones in the world). Moreover, China has 219 national geoparks, 60 national mining parks, 100 provincial geoparks, dozens of provincial mining parks, and the Geopark Network System has a wide national distribution. The construction of geoparks has laid a good foundation for the sustainable development and for a socioeconomic and geotourism in China.

In order to promote international exchanges and cooperation on geotourism between China and other parts of the world, the World Geotourism and Sustainable Development Conference will be held and the following is a detailed description of the event:

1. Conference Name
World Geotourism Conference, Zhengzhou, China, 2014

2. Conference Languages
English, Chinese

3. Organizers
 
Main Organizers
The World Geotourism Organization (WGO)
International Recreation and Vacation Society (IRVS)
Commission on Tourism Earth Science and Geopark, GSC

4. Host Organizer
Henan Geological Tourism Development Association

5. Support Organizations
Global Geoparks Network of the UNESCO support
European Geoparks Network

Associations 
Asia-Pacific Geological Tourism Association
Geological Society of China (GSC)
China Gem and Jade Association (CGJA)
View Stone Association of China
China Fossil Specimens Foundation
The National Geographic Society of the United States
Ecotourism Australia
Taiwan Geotourism Association
Association for Geoconservation, Hong Kong

Media
CCTV - Geography
China National Geography Magazine
Resource Guide, Geotourism Magazine
Chinese Land and Resources Newspaper 
China Mineral Newspaper
China Geological Publishing Press

6. Conference Committee

Honorable Chairs
Wensheng Sun, Former Minister, Ministry of Land and Resources
Patrick McKeever, Secretary, UNESCO's International Geoscience plan secretary-general, the head of the global earth observation
Ross Dowling, Advisor, UNESCO’s Global Network of National Geoparks

Conference Chairs
Prof. Anze Chen, Founder of China Geotourism, Regional President in Asia of WGO
Prof. Geoffrey Wall, President of IRVS

Conference Committee Members
Changxing Long, Executive Board Member of the Geopark Network
Bihu Wu, Prof. of Beijing University
Zhenyang Wu, Chairman of Asia Pacific Geotourism Organization
Zhenzhi Yang, Secretary-General of the International Recreation and Vacation Society
Quanguo Tang, President of Henan Geotourism Development Association
Jiangshui Cao, Vice President of Henan Geotourism Development Association
Mingzhong Tian, Prof. of China University of Geosciences (Beijing)

7. Conference & Exhibition Program

1). Academic
Sustainable development of Tourism geoscience and geoparks
Geotourism development technology and academic exchanges geo-development of the tourism industry
Geotourism and culture products exchange
Geotourism destination (geopark) marketing and promotions
Others
　　　
2). Field trip
A proposed one-day field trip to visit a Global Geopark in Henan Province.
　　　　
3). Exhibition
Three areas and themes

Area 1: geotourism landscape products
　　
　　Suggested exhibitors
　　　　Geoparks exhibition
　　　　Mine parks exhibition
　　　　China national parks exhibition
　　　　Landscape resorts and other geo-landscapes exhibition
　　　　Travel agencies exhibition (geotourism routes recommendation)
　　　　
Area 2: Geotourism technology development
　　
　　Suggested exhibitors
　　Geological exploration units and enterprises occupied in geotourism            investigation and evaluation
　　Universities, organizations and enterprises engaged in geotourism              planning and design(including geoparks, mine park and geo- cultural           industrial  parks)
　　　　
Area 3: Geotourism culture products
　　
　　Suggested exhibitors
　　Geologic specimens
　　Universities, organizations , enterprises and persons engaged in the creativity and development of geotourism cultural products
　　Organizations , enterprises and persons engaged in the manufacture of geo-technological movies, cartoon and books
　　Enterprises engaged in the development and manufacture of geo-fairgrounds and experience produc
　　Developers and operators on geotourism souvenirs
　　Developers and operators and collectors on view stone and gem-jade
　　Developers and operators on other geo-culture products

8. Invited exhibitors and visitors in audience
　　Local government with geoparks in their areas
　　Geopark management department
　　Geopark administration
　　Tourism administration department
　　Tourism competent authorities
　　Geo-museums
　　Tour operators
　　Travel agencies
　　Industry gardens
　　Industrial park representatives
　　Geopark and area planning companies
　　Design and functional development of the unit
　　Geoparks and scenic representatives
　　Geotourism resources development companies
　　Geo-souvenirs development corporations
　　Gemstone (view stone company) and ornamental companies

Price

Booth Price: Standard booth: 15,000 Yuan ($2,500)/9 m2 standard size: $2,500/9 m2
Special booth (space, 36 m2 from the set, 1,200 Yuan ($200)/m2)
Special size: above 35 m2/each, $200/m2
　　　　
9. Conference Dates and Venue

Conference: 28-30 October, 2014（report on 27 October）
Exhibition: 28 October -2 November, 2014（report on 27 October）
Venue: China International Exhibition Center, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

10. Requirements of paper
　　Format of Paper: Abstract 
　　Language of Paper: English
　　Deadline for submission: August 21, 2014
　　Abstract (English) length: less than one page of A4 paper, including: title,       3-7 keywords, references, author's name, affiliation, address, zip code,          Email address. Please use Word document format to submit the               abstracts.
　　Please indicate "World Geotourism Conference Abstract" and send by          e-mail through http://www.hndzly.cn

11. Registration Fees

1). Early registration ends September 31, 2014: RMB 1200(USD 200) per person
　　On-site registration: RMB 1500(250 USD) per person
　　Two exhibitors can take registration fee for free in each standard booth 
　　Account: Henan Geotourism Development Association
　　Account number: 7622 0157 4000 00087
Bank of deposit: Zhengzhou Dongfeng Branch of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank
2). Accommodation and living costs are not included in registration fees.

12. Register

The application deadline is on 30 September, 2014.Please check the web site http://www.hndzly.cn for more details. The applicants need to feel the receipt attached and the No.1 receipt should be sent to the contacts by email or fax by 30 April, 2014.

13. Contact Information
Geological Association of Henan Tourism Development Secretariat
Jun Dong (Secretary General):
Tel +86 15639916119 E-mail 1138439856@qq.com
Junfeng Zhao (in Chinese):
Tel +86 18768866961 Email 765442301@qq.com
Hanqi Li (in English):
Tel +86 18614981679 Email 283004311@qq.com