From June 10 to 13, the 40th International Travel Expo Hong Kong was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism organized cultural and tourism departments from the cities of Changsha, Zhangjiajie, Chenzhou, and Huaihua, and Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, along with multiple cultural and tourism enterprises to jointly participate in the expo. The Hunan Culture and Tourism Promotion Conference in Hong Kong and the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area promotional event were held on site.

The Hunan Culture and Tourism Promotion Conference in Hong Kong. (Photo provided by the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism)​

The Hunan exhibition booth was full of highlights and drew large crowds, focusing on promoting Hunan's premium travel routes and tourism offerings from the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area to further expand the inbound tourism market. Representative intangible cultural heritage products such as Hunan embroidery, Hunan tea, and Hunan porcelain were prominently showcased, fully demonstrating the profound cultural heritage of Hunan and attracting many domestic and international merchants, local residents, and tourists. Additionally, Hunan's cultural and tourism presentations and artistic performances took turns on stage in the Chinese mainland exhibition area. Combining dynamic and static elements with a blend of visual and auditory experiences, these performances vividly showcased the unique charm of Hunan's scenic landscapes.

At the event, Hunan's promotion ambassador gave special presentations on the province's cultural and tourism products, the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area, and Hunan's educational travel programs. Cultural performances titled "New Songs of Dongting" and "I'll Sing the Song of Hunan to You" conveyed the emotions of the province's landscapes through songs, earning rounds of applause. 

Hunan's intangible cultural heritage products on display. (Photo provided by the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism)​

Through the launch of travel routes, intangible cultural heritage displays, and immersive promotional activities, this event provided the Hong Kong tourism industry and the general public with a comprehensive overview of Hunan's rich cultural and tourism resources, injecting new momentum into deepening cultural and tourism cooperation between Hunan and Hong Kong and attracting visitors to Hunan.

Since the beginning of this year, as policy benefits continue to take effect, international flight routes are being resumed at an accelerated pace, and service convenience continues to improve, Hunan's inbound tourism is rapidly advancing toward becoming an "international tourist destination." In the first quarter of this year, Hunan's ports recorded nearly 400,000 inbound and outbound passenger trips, a year-on-year increase of 16.4%, with inbound and outbound foreign nationals reaching 175,000. During the May Day holiday, the province's ports saw 26,000 inbound and outbound passenger trips, a year-on-year increase of 6.4%, setting a record high for the same period since 2020.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Voice of Hunan