The 2023 Chongqing International Travel Agent Conference was held in Chongqing on November 21, showcasing the city's rich cultural and tourism offerings.

The conference, themed "Nihao(Hello), China · Hello, Chongqing," has brought together approximately 400 domestic and international guests from nearly 30 countries and regions, including Hungary, Australia, and Laos. The event will continue until November 23 and aims to foster exchange and collaboration in the domestic and international tourism markets.

The Chongqing International Travel Agent Conference was held in Chongqing on November 21, showcasing the city's rich cultural and tourism offerings. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)

The conference features professional, market-oriented, and branded activities, including cultural and tourism roadshows, negotiations, boutique matchmaking sessions, and tours of premium tourist routes. These initiatives provide a platform for industry professionals to engage in discussions, negotiations, and collaborations while key speakers explore the development opportunities within the cultural and tourism sectors.

Simultaneously, the 2023 Chongqing International Tourism Exhibition is being held on the Jiangbei Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street. The exhibition includes themed areas focusing on international tourist destinations, provinces, and cities along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor(ILSTC), the "Nihao, Chongqing" initiative, and airlines. The event encourages active participation from local citizens and tourists.

During the opening ceremony, seven individuals demonstrating a passion for Chinese culture and a commitment to promoting tourism in Chongqing were appointed "2023-2024 Chongqing Tourism Promotion Ambassadors." These ambassadors, comprising Chinese and foreign nationals, are encouraged to share compelling narratives about China through their perspectives, languages, and channels.

Jeong Gang Hoan, the President of the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Asia, presented Chongqing with the "2023 Asia-Pacific Top Three Tourism Festival Cities" award at the opening ceremony.

The IFEA, established in 1956, is one of the world's most influential organizations in the festivals and events industry. The "Asia-Pacific Top Three Tourism Festival Cities" award attracted 32 candidate cities from eight countries this year, making the selection process highly competitive.

Jeong Gang Hoan, the President of the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Asia, presented Chongqing with the "2023 Asia-Pacific Top Three Tourism Festival Cities" award at the opening ceremony. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)

Chongqing secured its place among the "2023 Asia-Pacific Top Three Tourism Festival Cities" through comprehensive evaluations, on-site inspections, and expert reviews by festival professionals worldwide. The city's enchanting urban night scenes and vibrant nighttime economy contributed to its selection alongside Sydney, Australia, and Tongyeong, South Korea.

This recognition underscores Chongqing's cultural and tourism development, particularly in nighttime tourism, receiving widespread international attention and acclaim.

Meanwhile, the conference saw the signing of ten international cultural and tourism cooperation projects and the launch of the ILSTC International Tourism Cooperation (Chongqing) Initiative and the Chongqing Inbound Tourism Marketing Incentive Program.