CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- The Lancang-Mekong Tourism Cities Cooperation Alliance Exchange Event 2024 took place on November 27, where tourism officials from the six Lancang-Mekong countries, representatives from international organizations, experts, and scholars gathered together to explore ways to deepen cultural tourism exchanges and cooperation and promote the integrated development of tourism across the Lancang-Mekong region.

The event focused on further strengthening tourism cooperation among the six Lancang-Mekong countries and facilitating the sharing and integration of cross-border tourism resources. To this end, the conference launched the Lancang-Mekong Media Tourism Promotion Cooperation Initiative, which aims to leverage media platforms to promote each country’s rich natural landscapes, deep cultural heritage, and unique ethnic customs to international markets, attract more international visitors, and increase the recognition and influence of Lancang-Mekong tourism globally.

During the event, several complementary activities were held, including exhibitions, promotional talks, and site visits under the theme "How Tourism Makes Life Better". These events provided an opportunity to showcase the distinctive cultural features and images of the participating countries and Chongqing.

Chongqing is accelerating its efforts to build a strong cultural and tourism city. It aims to become a globally recognized cultural tourism destination, a national model for high-quality tourism development, and a leading region for integrating cultural and tourism industries in Western China. In recent years, Chongqing has successfully hosted a series of major events, including the inaugural Lancang-Mekong Conference & the Lancang-Mekong City Mayor Cultural Tourism Forum, and cultural tourism exchange programs with the sister cities of Mekong River countries.

Chongqing has also established friendly partnerships with cities such as Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and Ho Chi Minh City and opened several international routes, including direct flights to Bangkok, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Nha Trang. These connections make Chongqing and these cities mutually important tourism destinations and tourist sources and reflect the vigorous development of tourism cooperation in the Lancang-Mekong region.

During the conference, it was announced that Chongqing, along with its counterparts in the Alliance, would continue to build and improve management structures to integrate fully into the Alliance’s framework. This will facilitate practical cooperation in areas such as tourist exchanges, joint promotion, and resources sharing across the Lancang-Mekong region. The goal is to build a unified mechanism that can channel collective power and promote mutual development.

Furthermore, Chongqing will continue to advance the construction of transportation networks, such as high-speed rail and direct flights, between Alliance cities. By enhancing exchanges, aligning standards, improving information flow, and providing technical support, the city aims to raise the level of integration and convenience, fostering collaborative growth in the Lancang-Mekong tourism sector. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)