As the Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo approaches, tourism leaders are emphasizing the sector's unique power to foster cross-cultural understanding. Dai Bin, President of the China Tourism Academy, described tourism as "a bridge for people-to-people dialogue" that transcends borders and political differences.
Speaking ahead of the September event in northwest China's Gansu Province, Dai called for enhanced cooperation among global tourism operators. "China is not only the world's largest tourism market but also a contributor of ideas for building a sustainable global tourism community," he stated, referencing initiatives like digital payment systems and eco-tourism standards developed in the Chinese mainland.
The expo, which revives the ancient Silk Road's legacy of cultural exchange, will feature forums on leveraging tourism for economic development across Asia. Analysts note this comes as international arrivals to China surged 152% year-on-year in Q1 2024, signaling strong recovery post-pandemic.
For business leaders, the developments highlight opportunities in Asia's $3.8 trillion tourism market. Academics meanwhile point to tourism's understudied role in soft diplomacy, particularly in connecting the 50 million overseas Chinese with their cultural roots.
