From September 24 to 28, the “Connecting Global Communities: Strengthening Ties with Guizhou” event unfolded in the Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Xinyi, Guizhou. Representatives from over 30 countries, including leaders from overseas Chinese communities, Chinese-language media, and travel agencies, gathered with international friends from Thailand, France, and the UAE to explore the region’s breathtaking mountainous landscapes, rich culture, and collaborative opportunities in innovative mountain tourism.
Participants had the chance to visit several local attractions such as Qilin 24 Bends, Wanfenglin, Malianghe Canyon, and the Xinyi World Geopark Museum. Additionally, they engaged in the 2024 International Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports Conference, focusing on the abundant mountain tourism resources in the region.
Xinyi, positioned in the golden climate ecological zone at 25 degrees north latitude, was honored with the title of “China’s Capital of Health and Wellness” by the China Meteorological Association in 2019. The area is characterized by its remarkable karst landforms, including peaks, waterfalls, gorges, caves, sinkholes, and underground rivers, and it houses the UNESCO-designated Xinyi World Geopark.
Xu Yougang, Deputy Minister of the United Front Work Department of the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee, underscored China’s commitment to tourism cooperation as part of its vision to build a community with a shared future for humanity. He expressed optimism that overseas Chinese can act as bridges to enhance friendly collaboration between their host countries and China, particularly Guizhou, to foster dialogue on policy issues, improve infrastructure connectivity, facilitate trade, and enhance mutual understanding.
In recent years, Guizhou has concentrated on three core elements: resources, tourists, and services, to systematically advance its tourism industry. The region aims to boost the quality and efficiency of its tourism sector and establish itself as a world-class travel destination. Recent data reveal that during the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2024, inbound tourism orders in Guizhou surged by 235% year-on-year, significantly aided by overseas Chinese travelers.
“Connecting Global Communities: Strengthening Ties with Guizhou” is a flagship event initiated by the Guizhou Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation, with backing from the China Overseas Chinese Federation. Each year, the event adopts a different theme and invites representatives from overseas Chinese communities. Li Li, Chairman of the Guizhou Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation, noted that this year’s gathering coincided with the 2024 International Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports Conference, aiming to leverage participants’ expertise in international norms and cross-border cultural tourism cooperation to identify new avenues for collaborative efforts between their host nations and Guizhou.
Zhang Zhu, Vice President of the French Guizhou Chamber of Commerce, shared insights from travel experts from France who attended the event, expressing their admiration for Guizhou’s scenic beauty and ethnic diversity. He mentioned that they plan to work more closely with Guizhou’s travel agencies to draw more tourists to the region.
Diao Kejia, President of the Thai Guizhou Chamber of Commerce, highlighted Thailand’s global reputation in tourism and noted Guizhou’s appeal to both domestic and international visitors, thanks to its diverse ethnic culture and stunning mountainous landscapes. He emphasized the importance of international tourism in enhancing the economies of both regions and expressed a strong desire to boost interactions between the two areas to promote tourism and cultural exchange further.
During the event, 14 overseas travel agencies signed agreements with local travel businesses in Guizhou, marking a significant step towards fostering international collaboration.
