Sichuan showcased at UNWTO’s General Assembly

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in China, hosted the 22nd session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly in September.

The event, which focused on sustainability, brought together more than 1,000 participants from over 130 UN member countries worldwide, including more than 70 minister-level officials.

Host city Chengdu and Sichuan province enjoyed their time in the spotlight of the global tourism industry, with a number of unique Sichuan specialties showcased at the event. These included selections of the province’s iconic teas and embroideries, as well as samplings of its world-renowned cuisine.

Participants were also impressed by Sichuan’s tourism sector following an inspection tour of several well-known attractions including the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Dujiangyan.

To further promote the province as a travel destination, the municipal government of Chengdu organised a tourism and investment promotion event where a government representative gave a presentation to global tourism executives on the latest development trends and growth potential of city’s tourism sector.

The government has launched 120 high-end tourism projects which collectively raised investment of some 685.3 billion yuan (approx. US$102.7 billion). Deals for six of the key projects were signed onsite with a combined value of 61 billion yuan (approx. US$9.1 billion), and included a strategic collaborative partnership between the government of Chengdu and HNA Group, and a strategic co-operation agreement between the government of Dujiangyan and Shanghai Zhongyou Real Estate Co., Ltd. for the construction of a Transformers-themed resort hotel.

An investment agreement was also signed between the government of Chongzhou and Hainan Baisha Tianyuan Kangyangcheng Construction Co., Ltd. for the build out of the Huaguoshan health and wellness centre project.

Taleb Rifai, the UNWTO’s secretary-general, said: “Chengdu and Sichuan province will not only benefit from the creative ideas brainstormed at the event but more importantly from what the event will produce in the long run.

“The over 1,000 participants who came from all over the world will serve as a bridge connecting Sichuan’s tourism sector to the world by promoting the Chinese province as a preferred tourist destination in their own country when they return home. This is an unprecedented opportunity for the government of Sichuan province and one that it plans to take full advantage of.”