On the morning of September 4, the “2023 International Mayors’ Forum on Tourism in Zhengzhou, China” opened at the Xuanyuan Hall of the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

This forum is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China and the People’s Government of Henan Province, and organized by Zhengzhou Municipal People’s Government, Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province, and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Henan Province. The World Tourism Organization, World Tourism Alliance, World Travel & Tourism Council, and Pacific Asia Travel Association acted as supporting organizations.

The theme of the forum is “Discovering New Momentum and Promoting Sustainable Development of Tourist Cities.”

Mayors and representatives of foreign tourist cities from 43 cities in 26 countries, including France, Italy, Russia, Germany, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Egypt, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia, and mayors and representatives of 59 domestic tourist cities like Qingdao, Changsha, Guiyang, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Sanya, Changchun, Xiamen, Huangshan, and Dali, cultural tourism experts, and representatives of tourism enterprises from home and abroad will all gather in Zhengzhou to discuss new cultural tourism trends.

It is reported that this forum will host a series of activities, including the “Henan Night” Tourism Promotion Campaign and welcome dinner, opening ceremony and forum conference, World Tourism Alliance City Tourism Dialogue, and others.

During this period, a series of exciting activities will also be held, including “Zhengzhou Night” cultural tourism immersive experience activity, International Tourism City Exchange Exhibition, a tour to experience World Cultural Heritage Dengfeng “Centre of Heaven and Earth” historical architecture complex, “Chinese Kung Fu Night” experience activity, a trip to Henan Museum and Kaifeng Luoyang to start the tour of ancient Chinese capitals, and others.

The International Mayors’ Forum on Tourism in Zhengzhou, China is a significant international cultural tourism branding activity jointly created by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Henan Province. Since its inception in 2008, seven sessions have been successfully held. It has played an active role in further enhancing the international influence of Henan’s culture and tourism, building a high-end exchange and cooperative development platform for world tourism cities, creating an internationally renowned tourism exhibition brand for Henan and even China, and promoting inbound tourism to China.