On Nov 22, the 5th Belt and Road Tourism Forum was successfully held online with the theme, “The post-COVID ‘Belt and Road’ tourism opening-up and cooperation”. Participants at the forum discussed strategies for opening-up and cooperation of the tourism industry in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The forum was co-hosted the Center for ASEAN Economy, Culture, and Tourism Studies, the Center for Central Asian Culture and Tourism Studies, the Management and Science University (MSU), the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage (SIUT), and HeTian Normal College. 

Professor Ji Jinbiao, president of Beijing International Studies University (BISU) and Li Baochun, secretary-general of the World Tourism Cities Federation (BTCF), attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Nineteen experts and scholars from China, Malaysia, Hungary, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and other countries gave speeches. 

Ji noted that the Belt and Road Initiative is a strategic measure and a top-level design of economic diplomacy put forward by China to encourage opening-up, which is an important platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind. Tourism is a key component of the BRI and an important way to strengthen communication among peoples in different countries. The BISU has been playing up its academic advantage to provide talent guarantee and intellectual support. 

Ji Jinbiao, president of Beijing International Studies University (BISU), delivers a speech.

Li said in his speech that the tourism industry is a “happiness project” to promote communication and friendship among peoples in the countries involved in the BRI. The BTCF has been dedicated to building an international platform for international tourism that would benefit the BRI.   

Li Baochun, secretary-general of the World Tourism Cities Federation (BTCF), delivers a speech.

Professor Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid, president of the MSU, believes that the communication in education will bring benefit to countries involved in the BRI. The MSU has been providing convenient cooperation among countries involved in the BRI. 

Professor Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid, president of the MSU, delivers a speech.

Saifuddin Abay, president of HeTian Normal College, said that tourism has become a bridge to connect peoples in BRI countries. Professor Li Yukai, Party secretary of HeTian Normal College, said Xinjiang, as the core area of BRI, should take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to cultivate cultural and tourism talents and develop initiatives to promote the development of BRI construction.

Saifuddin Abay, president of HeTian Normal College, delivers a speech.

The forum provided constructive suggestions for opening-up and cooperation of BRI tourism in the post-COVID era and important theories and guidance to help the post-COVID tourism market recover.