The 15th National Games officially commenced on November 9, 2025, at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center in Guangzhou. As the official ticket agency for the event, the “Travel with the Games” series launched by Guangzhou Travel, a subsidiary of Lingnan Group, has seen remarkable sales performance. The first peak of spectator travel occurred on November 7-8, demonstrating the strong appeal of the “sports-tourism” model.
The opening ceremony, themed “Dreams Come True in the Future,” blended cultural elements from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. It featured innovative elements such as a water stage, robotic performances of ancient music, and technological flame displays, creating a spectacular audiovisual feast that spanned ancient and modern eras and set the stage for over ten days of thrilling competitions.
Sales data indicates that travel packages bundling tickets to popular events are highly sought after, with table tennis and diving drawing the most enthusiasm. Notably, tickets sold through officially authorized travel agencies operate on a separate pool from the Games' official platform, offering additional viewing opportunities for tourists.
The Games have effectively stimulated integrated cultural, commercial, and tourism consumption in the Greater Bay Area. Even less popular events like rhythmic gymnastics, rock climbing, and breakdancing have achieved strong market response when bundled with travel packages. For instance, a Shenzhen rhythmic gymnastics viewing tour organized by a travel agency incorporated nearby attractions such as Dongguan scenic spots and Shenzhen Guanlan Printmaking Village into its itinerary, effectively boosting cross-city tourism spending.
Additionally, themed group tours incorporating National Games viewing experiences have become a popular choice for customized outings among enterprises and institutions. Travel agencies have developed diverse itineraries—such as “Games viewing + team building” and “Games viewing + wellness retreats”—tailored to corporate needs, offering fresh options for union activities.
Cross-border events and enhanced transportation connectivity have also paved the way for multi-destination travel experiences. For the first time, the Games feature cross-border competitions: the marathon will traverse the Shenzhen Bay Bridge linking Shenzhen and Hong Kong, while road cycling athletes will enjoy seamless border clearance on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Improved supporting transportation services have further elevated tourism connectivity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Editor Ⅰ: Zhang Congxiao
Editor Ⅱ: Bao Gang
Editor Ⅲ: Liu Guosong
