Address by Zhang Xingyi, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Nanchuan District Committee, Mayor of Nanchuan District at International Mountain Tourism Day 2021 World Heritage Mountain (Jinfo Mountain) Summit · International Seminar on Mountain and Hot Spring Wellness Tourism

EDITOR'S NOTE: On May 29 2021, the main activity of the third International Mountain Tourism Day—the World Heritage Famous Mountain (Jinfo Mountain) Summit kicked off in Nanchuan District, Chongqing Municipality, China successfully. Themed with “World Heritage Protection and Green Development of Mountain Tourism”, the Summit got strong support from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), the Internationale Organisation Für Volkskunst (IOV) and the China Association of National Parks and Scenic Sites. As an important sub-event of this summit, the International Seminar on Mountain and Hot Spring Wellness Tourism was held with top experts and scholars at home and abroad. They gave keynote speeches and shared frontier observations focusing on mountain tourism, hot spring tourism, and health tourism to explore "the integrated development of hot spring wellness, climate wellness, forest wellness and mountain tourism". The speeches will be released in succession to share with industry colleagues.

Zhang Xingyi, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Nanchuan District Committee, Mayor of Nanchuan District delivered an address at International Seminar on Mountain and Hot Spring Wellness Tourism:

Distinguished guests and friends, ladies and gentlemen，

Good afternoon! I’m really glad to be here with you at the green Jinfo Mountain in the great Nanchuan District, to appreciate the natural views, discuss mountain tourism, and share ideas on hot spring wellness together. This summit is held in Nanchuan, based on the trust and support from IMTA, as well as the recognition and encouragement from CPC Nanchuan District Committee and People’s Government. So, on behalf of CPC Nanchuan District Committee and People’s Government, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to every government official and every guest present, and to those who have been supporting Nanchuan’s development.

Health is a focus that the human race cares about forever, as well as a critical pillar that upholds the progress of social civilization. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee with President Xi as the core has elevated “Healthy China” to a national strategy. Urged by the COVID-19 outbreak, the health care industry will embrace the most important golden period of development, making it a new blue ocean for economic growth in the future.

Chongqing is a city that prospers upon beautiful mountains and rivers. It enjoys a sound ecological environment and profuse resources, as well as a solid foundation and comparative advantage for its health care industry. Nanchuan District, as a major part of downtown Chongqing, is one of the four amalgamation pilot areas, thus enjoying geographical advantages, a sound ecological environment, and abundant natural resources. All these are perfect to develop wellness tourism. In recent years, according to the ecological civilization concept proposed by President Xi, we have been sticking to the conviction of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” integrating industries and ecosystems, and making wellness tourism a strategic pillar industry of the whole district. In detail, we have been implementing wellness projects, designing wellness products, developing wellness brands, expanding our supply and industry chain, upgrading the value chain, transforming mountain tourism into wellness tours, experience tours, and in-depth tours. As a result, wellness tourism in Nanchuan sped up a lot in progress. In Q1 this year, Nanchuan welcomed 7.74 million tourists, 16.4 percent higher than the same period in 2019, demonstrating how much strength and potential Nanchuan has in wellness tourism.

Wellness tourism is a sunshine industry with excellent economic, social, and ecological benefits, as well as a green industry that creates beauty, protect people’s health, and brings happiness to all of us. In the post-COVID world, people cherish health and value ecology more, and people’s pursuit of a high-quality, healthy life brings a great new opportunity for wellness tourism. Our next step is, with this summit as a chance, to explore new path ahead amid the varying threats and dangers, to further optimize the development principle, accelerate the project construction, and expand business patterns of wellness industry. In doing so, we aim to build the most “magnificent” hot spring wellness, the most “outstanding” forest wellness, the most “beautiful” cultural tourism wellness, the “best” traditional Chinese medicine wellness, and the “hottest” sports wellness, making Nanchuan the first choice for both Chinese and overseas tourists for a healthy tour and a poetic stay.

“The knowledgeable love waters, the benevolent love mountains.” Everyone present is both knowledgeable and benevolent, guest of Nanchuan’s beautiful mountains and waters. So, we are looking forward to receiving your advice and suggestions on Nanchuan’s development in wellness tourism. Therefore, on behalf of Nanchuan CPC District Committee and People’s Government, I hereby sincerely invite friends from all walks of life to come to Nanchuan for sightseeing, business trip, discussion, or investment. Let’s share the development dividends of wellness tourism in Nanchuan, and create a better future together.

Last, I wish this seminar a complete success, and wish everyone a successful career and a healthy, happy life.

Thank you very much!