From diverse ways to virtually tour the beautiful landscapes of China, to the application and application of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and VR in cultural and tourism scenarios, the 2026 China Cultural Tourism Industry Expo, which opened in Tianjin on September 3, covers an exhibition area of 100,000 square meters and attracted more than 2,500 cultural and tourism enterprises from 20 countries and regions, as well as 10 international organizations and national industry associations to participate in the expo.

The expo, themed "Deepening the Integration of Culture and Tourism to Create a Better Life," features ten themed exhibition areas showcasing the latest achievements in the integrated development of culture, commerce, tourism, and sports. These areas include cultural and tourism integration, new digital business models, cultural and tourism equipment, international cooperation, Tianjin specialties, and mass consumption. Eighteen professional events will be held concurrently, covering areas such as regional collaboration, industrial innovation, technological empowerment, and cultural and tourism consumption, establishing a national-level cultural and tourism industry platform that integrates achievement display, industry exchange, project matchmaking, and consumer experience.

Tianjin Vice Mayor Wang Baoyu stated that Tianjin will continue to amplify the platform's agglomeration effect, continuously optimize the business environment, improve the industrial support system, and strive to create a cultural and tourism development environment that attracts both locals and visitors.

Currently, the public's demand for high-quality cultural and tourism products, immersive experiences, diversified consumption scenarios, and meticulous service guarantees continues to rise. Data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism shows that in the first half of 2026, domestic residents made 3.463 billion trips, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%. Total domestic residents' spending on tourism reached 3.21 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.0%.

Ge Lei, Secretary General of the China Tourism Association, said that the deep integration and collaborative innovation of culture and tourism are injecting endogenous impetus into the high-quality development of the industry and creating new opportunities.

This year's expo also features an international cultural and tourism cooperation exhibition area, inviting global tourism organizations, international tourism groups, nearly 100 overseas travel agents, and international practitioners to participate.

The 2026 China Cultural Tourism Industry Expo, a four-day event, is hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This is the third edition and the second time it has been held in Tianjin. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)