More than 500 tourism experts and industry professionals from 17 countries and regions gathered at International Islands Tourism Conference 2023 that concluded in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, on Oct 14.

Sponsored by the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government and organized by Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Zhoushan Municipal People’s Government, the conference aimed to offer suggestions for the high-quality development of island tourism, promote international openness and cooperation, and achieve synergy between tourism and related industries.

Under the theme of New Silk Road, New Growth Drivers, New Opportunities, the conference, which took place on October 12-14, impressed attendees with rich contents and remarkable industry insights as well as a series of fascinating activities. The highlights of this grand event included signing of Zhejiang Top Ten Island Park Projects, releasing 2023 World Islands Tourism Industry Innovation Report in collaboration with World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Dongsha Surfing & Skateboard Open, Mount Putuo Tour etc.

At the signing ceremony, more than 14 enterprises signed cooperation contracts worth 8.35 billion yuan ($1.14 billion) at the conference, and they are expected to optimize the integration of upstream and downstream resources in the island tourism industry.

The participants also looked into the development models of 36 small island developing states worldwide, proposed cutting-edge topics, and explored the integration of culture and tourism with rural revitalization as well as a new wave of exploring the transformation of future island tourism destinations, and actively cultivate emerging industries such as water sports, camping equipment, digital cultural tourism, film IP, and comprehensive health care services.

Launched in 2015, International Islands Tourism Conference as a leading islands tourism cooperation platform aims to promote islands tourism innovation and maritime sustainable development, promote exchanges and trade across the industrial value chain of marine and islands tourism development and build a platform of people-to-people diplomacy between China and island tourism countries and regions in the world.