The golden snub-nosed monkeys play in trees in Baihe Nature Reserve of Jiuzhaigou County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 10, 2021. /CFP
A photo exhibition showcasing China's diverse wildlife was held at the headquarters of UN Tourism in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday, aimed at promoting the growing trend of natural tourism.
"There are lots of natural parks and many beautiful places that are undiscovered, and I think this is one of the first steps to promote Chinese natural tourism, which is also becoming very trendy and important today," Secretary-General of UN Tourism Zurab Pololikashvili said.
The exhibition features 20 photographs of wildlife, some of which have earned accolades in international competitions. These images were taken by professional and amateur Chinese photographers ranging in age from 12 to over 70.
Pololikashvili said that tourists want to travel to China "to see not only buildings and architecture or the modern part of China but also the rural development," which is "one of our priorities."
This exhibition is one of the first steps "to promote together" natural tourism, and in China, there are many things to see "outside of the big cosmopolitan cities," he noted.
Chinese tourism, both inbound and outbound, has been recovering after the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the first half of this year, China received 14.64 million international visitors, a 153 percent surge from the previous year. A significant portion – 8.54 million – entered through visa-free policies, reflecting a 190 percent rise, according to data from the China National Immigration Administration.
Tourists ride bamboo rafts along the Jiuqu Stream in Wuyi Mountain National Park, Nanping City, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 21, 2024. /CFP
"Numbers are there, and people are coming back to China. The interest is huge to travel in China," and this kind of activity will be "a good support."
In terms of China's outbound tourism, "in the second part of 2023 and throughout 2024, we're seeing that the numbers of Chinese tourists are increasing, and we're coming back to 2019," he said, adding that "next year, it will be much better because everything is back."
He also noted that tourism is becoming more sustainable and that people are looking for new destinations and new experiences.
Also at the opening ceremony, Harry Hwang, regional director for Asia and the Pacific at UN Tourism, highlighted that Chinese tourists are making a big impact not only "in Asian destinations but in the whole world."
"Asia was one of the slowest regions to recover from the pandemic," but once it's recovered, "I think it will lead the growth and development of tourism, and at that juncture, Chinese tourism will be absolutely important," the regional director added.