Fifth Hunan tourism conference opens in Huaihua

The Fifth Hunan Tourism Development Conference kicked off on Wednesday in Huaihua, Hunan province, bringing together senior officials, industry experts, and practitioners to share insights.

Shen Xiaoming, Party secretary of Hunan, said the province has vigorously promoted the development of its tourism industry in recent years by transforming its natural landscapes and cultural heritage into enduring attractions.

Mao Weiming, governor of Hunan, emphasized that efforts should be made to deepen the integration of tourism with culture, technology, and other sectors. He added that Hunan will enhance its image, drive project construction, attract investment, boost consumption, and improve livelihoods through the high-quality development of its tourism industry.

Wang Wei, senior vice-president of Trip.com Group, China's largest online travel agency, said Hunan has seen a sustained rise in inbound tourists since early 2023.

In the first nine months of this year, inbound visits and spending by inbound tourists in the province surged 45.4 percent and 50.5 percent year-on-year, respectively.

"Meanwhile, the number of domestic tourists to Hunan has continued to grow, thanks to the increasing appeal of its world-class and iconic scenic attractions," Wang said.

Wang added that Trip.com Group has launched four action plans to help drive the high-quality development of Hunan's inbound tourism, consumption, rural vitalization, and festivals, performances, and other events.

Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, suggested that the province use big data and AI, along with cultural creativity, to innovate exhibition methods and enrich interpretation content, thereby enhancing its appeal as a well-known national red tourism destination. Red tourism refers to visiting the historical sites of China's revolution led by the Communist Party of China from 1921 to 1949.

Dai also proposed that Hunan develop red tourism routes by leveraging the Yangtze River and Long March national cultural parks to create iconic programs that teach international tourists about China's history.

The conference featured the signing of cooperative projects and the release of investment and financing achievements in the culture and tourism sector.

A series of supporting activities, including an intangible cultural heritage expo, self-drive tours, village choir performances, and a gourmet festival, were also held during the conference.