The 2021 Shandong Conference on Tourism Development kicked off on Sept 22 in the eastern coastal city of Yantai, Shandong province, with the goal of fueling growth of local cultural and tourism industries.

The conference is designed as a high-level and distinctive tourism event to continuously enhance Shandong's international and domestic appeal.

Officials from the country's provincial departments of cultural and tourism, investors, as well as representatives of international organizations have been invited to participate in the event through offline and online activities.

Li Ganjie, governor of Shandong, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Shandong Conference on Tourism Development. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Li Ganjie, governor of Shandong, extended a warm welcome and thanks to all the guests attending the event via both online and offline channels.

He noted that Shandong, which sits on the lower reaches of the Yellow River and the coast of eastern China, is an economic powerhouse with a long history and rich culture.

The province is an important cradle of Chinese civilization and the birthplace of the Confucian culture. It is also home to rich and diverse tourism and cultural resources, said Li.

Shandong has implemented the new development concept of serving the country's efforts to build a new development pattern, as well as promote the integrated development of the cultural and tourism sectors, said the governor.

"We will give full play to the advantage of cultural tourism resources in Shandong, participate in major national strategy and major cultural projects, cultivate tourism routes and products, as well as strengthen product development and brand promotion to boost the high-quality development of regional culture and tourism industries," Li said.

"We are willing to strengthen cooperation with partners at home and abroad in infrastructure, cultural creativity, scenic spot construction, industrial development, consumer services, and other fields to share opportunities and create mutually beneficial situations."

Liu Shijun, secretary-general of the World Tourism Alliance, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Shandong Conference on Tourism Development. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Shijun, secretary-general of the World Tourism Alliance, said in his speech that Shandong has attached great importance to the culture and tourism industries, with a series of measures to boost reform, promote development, as well as brand local industries.

Liu said that the conference will inject new vitality to the development of Shandong's cultural and tourism industries.

At the opening ceremony, the establishment ceremony of China Tourism's new media promotion consortium was held, while the Shandong Provincial People's Government and China Tourism Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Yantai also held a cultural tourism promotion activity.

The Shandong Provincial People's Government and China Tourism Group sign a strategic cooperation agreement. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]