理事長的話
理事長詹秀蓉感言
President Ms. Jan Hsiu-Jung Speech
民國85年5月18日，由劉宗明等國內外觀光業界及學者專家等志同道合之菁英，組成國際性之民間社團，經內政部核准成立之「中華國際觀光協會」，如今已堂堂邁入二十個年頭。
本會成立之後，經歷屆理事長、理監事、秘書長以及全體會員一步一腳印的艱辛經營，克服各種難題，逐步成長茁壯，現在業已成為享譽海內外的知名的社團。因此，本會對兩岸無論是民間或是政府都具有一定影響力。
過去，本會為觀光產業提供經營趨勢之資訊、為愛好旅遊者規劃各項旅遊觀光活動、為從事旅遊相關業者提供教育訓練，改善其服務品質、協助業者調整經營策略等服務，並將會員觀光政策建言傳達政府作為施政參考，以提昇我國國際形象及競爭力，為台灣做出貢獻，獲得各界相當的好評。
大家都知道，秀蓉一直以來都在從事文化、藝術工作，並以宣揚中華文化、促進社會祥和、維護兩岸和平雙贏為使命。而且，秀蓉在本會籌組期間即積極參與籌備工作，二十年多年來，始終以藝術工作者的身分協助本會推動兩岸，乃至國際間的文化、藝術交流活動。如今，秀蓉既已承接重任，今後仍將一本初衷，以文化、藝術、慈善、公益為中心，發揮文化、藝術的影響力，在本會過去打下堅實的基礎上，以民間的角色協助政府發展台灣的旅遊觀光事業，因為文化、藝術本身是無國界的，可以從『心』影響人們的思維與作為，其力量勝過千軍萬馬，令人無法想像的。
也就是說，「中華國際觀光協會」，未來將以文化、藝術、慈善、公益為核心，運用各位學者、專家的智慧；以及相關業者豐富的經驗，積極推動觀光事業的發展，並藉觀光旅遊業的發展，帶動台灣經濟活動的引擎，促使國民經濟活絡、繁榮，讓景氣回春，使得國人的就業機會能夠增加、國人的生活品質因而獲得改善。
尤其，在兩岸關係面臨變化，兩岸主政者缺乏互信，互動遲滯不前，未來兩岸關係充滿著不確定感之際，更需要借助民間社團的力量，維護兩岸民間與政府之間的互動、諒解，穩住兩岸和平發展局面，如此，本會將來發揮的空間將更為寬廣，承擔的使命也將更為艱鉅，大家不宜妄自菲薄，並以此與全體會員同仁共勉之。
On May 18th, 1996, Mr. Liu Chong-Ming called upon tourism industry leaders and academic experts to band together and form a non-governmental organization (NGO). The Ministry of the Interior of Social Affairs gave the final approval to the establishment of the Chinese International Tourism Association. Today is the twenty-year anniversary of the Association.
After the Association was formed, past presidents, directors, officers, and secretary generals grew the organization step-by-step and overcame many difficulties in the process. The Association is now a well-known organization. Accordingly, the Association is increasingly influential over governmental or non-governmental entities on both sides of the strait.
In the past, the Association provided domestic and international tourism information relating to management trends, planned tourism activities for tourists, provide educational training for tourism-related participants to improve service qualities, helped tourism business owners adjust business strategies, and provide other pertinent services. We also pass along feedbacks to the government agency with our survey experiences from abroad to promote Taiwan tourism industry’s image and raise its overall competitiveness. We made considerable contributions to Taiwan and are well-received.
As you all know, I have dedicated my whole life to the cultural arts. I feel a deep sense of duty to promote Chinese culture, foster social harmony, and maintain a peaceful cross-strait relationship. I have been actively involved in the Association’s activities since its inception. In the twenty years since, I have assisted the Association in my capacity as an artist, to increase the exchange of cross-strait cultural and art activities. Today, as the Association’s President, my goal is to use arts, culture, charity, and public services as the basis to exert their influences on tourism. The Association plays a vital role from the NGO perspective to assist the government in the development of Taiwan tourism industry. Culture and art are without borders. Collectively, they speak to humanity from within and affect thinking and conducts in ways unimaginable.
This means the Chinese International Tourism Association will focus its attention on arts, culture, charity, and public services. With our scholars, experts, and others with relevant industry experience, we will actively promote the development of tourism industry. The development of the tourism industry will in turn, drive Taiwan’s economic engine. The end result is to rejuvenate the economy so that it is more vibrant and prosperous and consequently increase employment opportunities and improve the overall welfare of Taiwan citizens.
Currently the cross-strait relations are facing changing dynamics. Both sides lack mutual trust and the interactions are becoming stagnant. The future of cross-strait relations is filled with a sense of uncertainty. It is time to leverage the power of NGO to maintain stable cross-strait interactions of the governments and people and stabilize cross-strait peace development. Therefore, the Association’s role in the future will be even more expanded and our missions will be increasingly difficult. Nonetheless, we should not be discouraged. With your help, we will meet our challenges and accomplish our goals.
