A variety of giant panda toys with unique expressions, magnificent displays of Jiuzhaigou Waterfalls, bronze statues of Sanxingdui, and other distinctive elements of Sichuan culture and tourism drew a large crowd.
The 16 cities and prefectures from Sichuan collaborated in a vibrant promotion of their tourism sector. The Sichuan Exhibition Hall at the recent 8th Western China Tourism Industry Expo was adorned with lush green bamboo and tea room-style bamboo tables and chairs, capturing the distinctive charm of the Bashu region.
Sichuan Exhibition Hall in the 8th Western China Tourism Industry Expo (Photo/Sichuan Province)
The 2023 Sichuan Culture and Tourism Promotion Conference took place at the Chongqing International Expo Center on July 1. Representatives from seven cities and prefectures in Sichuan took to the stage, each introducing stimulating activities to help visitors beat the summer heat in Sichuan. Under the theme "Embracing Chengdu 2021 FISU Games, Visiting Sichuan," they unveiled high-quality cultural tourism routes. They fully showcased Sichuan's warm welcome to visitors through attractive tourism incentive policies.
Integration of "landscape + products"
In an effort to integrate "Landscape + Products," the promotion conference primarily aimed at promoting cultural tourism resources and offering preferential benefits. Various methods such as promotional video screenings, performances of intangible cultural heritage songs and dances, and resource introductions were used to present and showcase the cultural tourism features of Sichuan Province, key scenic areas, and attractions in different cities and prefectures, as well as a wide array of cultural tourism products.
Each city and prefecture unveiled distinctive cultural tourism products, demonstrating the effectiveness of the deep integration and coordinated development of culture and tourism in Sichuan from multiple perspectives.
The 2023 Sichuan Culture and Tourism (Chongqing) Promotion Conference (Photo/Sichuan Province)
Representatives from each city and prefecture left no stone unturned in promoting their scenic locations and cultural appeal. Suining City presented the breathtaking lotus scenery along the Fujiang River and the large-scale live-action play, "Fantasy Silk Road," from the Silk Road Fantasy City of Daying County, inviting visitors to share a romantic summer. Bazhong, known as the "Natural Oxygen Bar," shared heroic tales and highlighted its rich cultural heritage. Zigong's Fantawild Dino Kingdom launched the "Prehistoric Ice and Snow Season," inviting thrill-seekers to partake in a dinosaur adventure. Dazhou proposed a "cool" summer getaway to help tourists escape the scorching heat, showcasing new forms of cultural tourism activities such as camping, museum visits, and night tours.
Two-pronged approach of "routes + policies"
With the strategy of "Routes + Policies," the Sichuan cultural tourism delegation demonstrated the allure of its cultural tourism resources while presenting a diverse array of high-quality cultural tourism routes. They also offered numerous discounts and benefits, ensuring visitors have the best travel choices and inviting them to "explore" the abundant land of Sichuan with practical discounts. The Sichuan delegation distributed over 30,000 promotional materials during the Western China Tourism Industry Expo, attracting more than 40,000 visitors for visits and consultations.
Several cities also launched distinctive tourist routes and personalized preferential policies, welcoming tourists to visit and experience them. Dazhou offered ten cool summer options to combat the summer heat, including rafting, homestays, camping, night tours, cuisine, self-driving tours, and fruit picking. Ya'an invited tourists to escape the summer heat by taking a forest walk. Bashan Grand Canyon offered free tickets and discounted lunches for college students nationwide, while Suining launched preferential activities and graduation travel benefits.
In the afternoon, Guang'an held the Cultural Tourism Promotion and Investment Promotion Conference. At the conference, Guang'an City's cultural and tourism department signed cultural tourism cooperation agreements with the cultural and tourism departments of Chongqing's Yubei District, Changshou District, Hechuan District, and Kaizhou District. Over recent years, Guang'an has actively integrated into the Chongqing metropolitan area and entered into over ten cultural tourism cooperation agreements, including the Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Promoting the Coordinated Development of Culture and Tourism and Jointly Building the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor. The signing of these agreements has further deepened the cooperation and exchanges between the two places.