2024.04.26
2024 Shandong High-Quality Cultural and Tourism Industry Development Conference
On the afternoon of April 25, the 2024 Shandong High-Quality Cultural and Tourism Industry Development Conference opened in Linyi. Mr. LIN Wu, Secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, attended the opening ceremony declaring the conference kicked off. Also present were Mr. ZHOU Naixiang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Governor of Shandong; Mr. LI Qun, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; Mr. ZHANG Xu, Chair of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA); Mr. LIU Shijun, WTA Vice Chair and Secretary-General; XU Peng, WTA Vice Chair; and Parakhat Durdyev, the Ambassador of Turkmenistan in China.
ZHOU Naixiang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Governor of Shandong
In his address, Mr. ZHOU Naixiang articulated the symbiotic relationship between culture and tourism, likening culture to the soul of tourism, and tourism to a vessel for culture. He praised Shandong’s blend of traditional charm and modern dynamism, and reiterated the province’s commitment to the “Friendly Shandong, Remarkable Shandong” campaign, which has been instrumental in promoting high-quality development within the cultural and tourism sectors.
ZHANG Xu, Chair of the World Tourism Alliance
In his speech, Mr. ZHANG Xu, Chair of the World Tourism Alliance, emphasized the diverse significance and value of the tourism industry and the importance of accurately grasping future trends in tourism development. According to forecasts from the UN Tourism, the global tourism industry is expected to achieve a comprehensive recovery this year. As a crucial component of the global tourism market, China continues to implement various policy measures to actively promote the recovery and development of the global tourism industry. Hosting the Tourism Development Conference in Shandong at this time serves both to signal a robust initiative for provincial tourism development and to bolster confidence in China’s tourism recovery.
The ceremony also marked the launch of the “Discover China Cultural Tour” with the inaugural event focusing on Shandong, featuring social media influencers sharing their experiences of the province. Concurrently, the “Friendly Shandong · Discover Qi-Lu” educational tourism brand was unveiled. Significant to the conference’s agenda was the strategic partnership signing ceremony, securing 18 key cultural and tourism projects. Attendees, including leaders and guests, were treated to the premiere of the large-scale indoor tourism performance, “Guo Show · Langya”, adding a cultural flourish to the proceedings.
2024 Shandong International Travel Operators Conference
Running concurrently with the main conference, the 2024 Shandong International Travel Operators Conference, guided by the Shandong Provincial People’s Government and the WTA and organized by the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Linyi Municipal People’s Government, and the China Association of Travel Services, was held on the morning of April 25. This conference drew nearly 200 participants from domestic and international tourism organizations, associations, travel operators, and airline representatives, underscoring its importance as a key component of the broader cultural and tourism development strategy.
Mr. ZHANG Xu and Mr. LIU Shijun also attended a collective meeting hosted by Secretary Mr. LIN Wu with other guests, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the conference.
This conference is hosted by the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and the Shandong Provincial Government, with joint organization from the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the municipal governments of Linyi City. Themed “Meeting in Affectionate Yimeng, Sharing Friendly Shandong”, the conference focuses on fostering friendships, discussing collaborations, and collectively strategizing on the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industries. The opening ceremony was attended by a diverse and influential group of participants, including multiple foreign ambassadors to China, representatives from domestic and international tourism organizations, associations, airline companies, travel operators, responsible officials from major domestic tourist source provinces, executives from large cultural and tourism enterprises, OTA businesses, commerce chambers from various provinces stationed in Shandong, leaders from related businesses and institutions in the Yangtze River Delta and Jing-Jin-Ji regions, key officials from various cities and directly governed departments within Shandong, and representatives from the cultural and tourism industry. Additionally, several satellite venues were set up across different cities and counties within Shandong to accommodate more participants.