Chinese and foreign guests gathered in Huangshan to jointly promote the in-depth integration of culture and tourism in RCEP World Heritage Sites

China News Service, Huangshan, Anhui, November 12 (Jiang Wanqi) The 2026 RCEP World Heritage Cultural Tourism Exchange and Promotion Conference was held in Huangshan, Anhui on the 12th. Representatives from heritage authorities from Indonesia and other countries, as well as representatives from relevant heritage sites and cultural tourism institutions from 15 countries attended the meeting.

"World heritage should not only be preserved for people to watch, but also need to be managed and protected for a long time based on science and responsibly. It should also be experienced, appreciated and shared across borders in a way that respects the value of the heritage." said Ben Montgomery, Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific Travel Association.

The theme of the conference is to promote the in-depth integrated development of culture and tourism, explore heritage to empower community development, and improve the modern industrial system of heritage tourism. The Huangshan Scenic Area Management Committee signed letters of intent for cooperation with the Heritage Management Bureau of the Ministry of Culture of Indonesia and the Linglong District Council of Perak, Malaysia.

The relevant person in charge of the Heritage Management Bureau of the Indonesian Ministry of Culture said: "We will carry out regular cooperation with Huangshan in the construction of core scenic spots, international brand building, tourist exchanges, etc., and jointly create a demonstration model of cross-border cultural tourism cooperation in the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) region."

"Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital monitoring and smart tourism management provide new opportunities to improve heritage protection, visitor management and knowledge sharing." Xia Zehan, director and representative of the UNESCO East Asia Regional Office, believes that heritage protection should be placed at the core of sustainable tourism, empower local communities, promote inclusive development, and strengthen innovation and international cooperation.

Data released by the United Nations Tourism Organization shows that in the first half of 2026, the number of international tourists worldwide reached 690 million, a year-on-year increase of 0.4%.

The conference also released the "Forecast of Global Trends in Heritage Tourism and Recommendations for Strategic Selection of RCEP World Heritage Sites (2026-2035)".