The 2024 Sino-Thai Cultural Tourism Carnival was held in Huangshan City of east China's Anhui Province, bringing diverse new rural tourism experiences to scores of residents and tourists.
The three-day festival runs from Friday to Sunday at the city's Dalingshan Tourism Resort, where ancient Huizhou architecture meets modern hospitality.
From melodious Thai music, to agile and powerful Thai boxing, to Huizhou straw dragon and fish lantern dances, more than 1,000 performers participated in what officials described as an ambitious cultural fusion experiment.
The evening performances were the festival's highlight, with Thai dancers sharing the stage with local performers wielding fish lanterns.
The fusion and collision of diverse cultural elements created a visual and auditory feast for the resort's visitors.
"The main purpose of organizing this Sino-Thai Cultural Tourism United as One Family event is to promote cultural exchanges between the two sides, allowing our traditional Huizhou culture to go out and the Thai culture to come in, and enrich tourism in the rural areas as well as the whole city," said Ji Liangli, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Huangshan's Huizhou District.
The cultural event also features 65 interactive programs, carefully curated to showcase both Thai and Chinese cultural elements.
"This weekend's event is a wonderful bridge connecting the people of Thailand and the people of China together, particularly here in Anhui Province. It's a wonderful honor for us to be here to bring together the cultures from Thailand and from China," said Prina Apirat, Thai Consul-General in Shanghai.
Cultural carnival brings Thai flair to ancient Chinese city
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
