On 22 July 2022, co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, the China International Travel Mart 2022 (CITM) was held at Kunming Dianchi International Convention & Exhibition Center. Mr. Wang Ning, Secretary of CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, Mr. Zhang Xu, Vice Minister of  Culture and Tourism, Mr. Lv Erxue, Deputy Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Ambassador of Thailand to China attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. Mr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Vice Prime Minister of Lao PDR sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony. Mr. Wang Yubo, Governor of Yunnan Provincial Government presided over the opening ceremony.

Mr. Wang Ning said that the obvious recovery of tourism in Yunnan in the first half of this year is the epitome of the national and global tourism market. It is hoped that the CITM 2022 will better demonstrate the latest achievements of Yunnan in practicing Xi Jinping’s ecological civilisation thought and better publicise eco-tourism resources and ethnic cultural tourism resources in Yunnan. It will further expand the market for tourism development and further accelerate the product innovation in Yunnan and better enhance exchanges and cooperation with all parties in various countries.

Mr. Zhang Xu said that the significant contribution of tourism to global economic and social development has become an international consensus. At present, global issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic have brought severe challenges to the international tourism industry. Although the epidemic has temporarily delayed people’s travel plans, it cannot dispel people’s yearning for travelling. With the continuous efforts of various countries to promote international tourism exchanges and cooperation, the recovery and revival of international tourism will eventually come. Currently, China is committed to promoting the high-quality development of culture and tourism. China is willing to work with all parties to make new and greater contributions to the recovery and development of the world tourism.

Mr. Lv Erxue said that the civil aviation industry and the tourism industry are a community of mutual promotion and integrated development. The safe, fast and convenient aviation network provides a strong transportation guarantee for the development of tourism. Meanwhile, with a strong driving force and high added value, the tourism industry provides important market support for air transportation.

Ambassador Arthayudh Srisamoot said that the China International Travel Mart is an important international tourism exhibition in Asia, which provides a good platform for tourism exchange and cooperation among countries. CITM2022 has strengthened the confidence of international tourism recovery and also promoted the exchange among people. He believed that future tourism development needs to focus on sustainability, ecology and safety.

The theme of CITM 2022 is “Smart Innovation for the Future- Serving High-Quality Development of Tourism”. In the meantime, a number of supporting activities such as the Smart Tourism Innovation and Development Forum, the Forum on China-Laos Railway Helping to Build a Community of Shared Future in Asia, and the International Tourism Exchange and Cooperation Development Forum under the framework of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) were held. Ms. Li Yaying, Deputy Director of the Education, Culture and Tourism Division (ECTD) of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) attended the opening ceremony of the CITM 2022 and the above-mentioned activities and exchanged opinions extensively with domestic and foreign counterparts.

A total of 4,200 standard booths were set up with an exhibition area of 80,000 square meters. Exhibitors and tourism agencies from 71 countries and regions attended CITM 2022 online and offline. ACC set up a booth in the international exhibition area to promote the image of ASEAN tourism and routes, introduce the recent achievements of China-ASEAN tourism exchanges, and discuss with relevant exhibitors to deepen tourism cooperation relations.