Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People's Congress, inspects Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, August 16, 2024.

On August 16, Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People's Congress, visited the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, where he inspected the administration and service aspects of the summer tourism and cultural market, and also met with and conveyed greetings to the staff on duty during the summer season. He emphasized the need to thoroughly study and implement the guiding principles from the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, prioritize high-quality development of the cultural and tourism sector, adopt reform-oriented approaches to address issues in development, devote consistent efforts to optimizing cultural and tourism offerings and enhancing service quality, create a safer and more orderly environment in the cultural and tourism market, and thus allow tourists to enjoy a comfortable and pleasant visit in Sichuan.

In the Department of Culture and Tourism, Wang Xiaohui began his inspection by heading to the Monitoring and Dispatching Command Center for the Cultural and Tourism Market. He examined the functioning of the Smart Sichuan Tours cultural and tourism public service platform and gained a detailed understanding of various aspects, including the management and operation of the province's summer cultural and tourism market, as well as big data monitoring in this sector. He stated that summer is the peak time for people to travel, which poses a challenge to the reception capabilities of destinations like tourist attractions and hotels. It is necessary to enhance management and service efficiency through digital empowerment, improve supporting service facilities, adjust reservation measures in response to tourist flow fluctuations, extend opening hours as needed, and implement other targeted strategies in a bid to continually refine the convenience and overall experience for tourists. Wang Xiaohui highlighted that study tours, mainly targeting primary, middle, and college students, are a key feature of the summer cultural and tourism market. He stressed the importance of capitalizing on the province's cultural and tourism resources to effectively integrate "travel" and "study", developing additional distinct and diverse study tour products and itineraries, and providing study tour participants with enriching experiences during their travels in Sichuan. Subsequently, he proceeded to the International Exchange Division, where he sought information about the province's cultural and tourism exchange and cooperation with foreign countries, the recovery and growth of inbound tourism, and other relevant matters. Upon learning of the substantial increase in inbound tourists to the province since the start of the year, Wang Xiaohui called for continuously optimizing the inbound tourism environment, focusing on aspects such as convenient entry for foreign tourists, language communication, and easy payment, providing more refined services, and shaping a positive international image for Sichuan's cultural and tourism sector. Additionally, efforts should be made to further expand the inbound tourism market, leveraging unique regional characteristics, harnessing the power of popular IP traffic, and sustaining promotional initiatives like the "Beautiful China, more than pandas" campaign so as to speed up the resurgence of inbound tourism.

Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People's Congress, visits Sichuan Provincial Administration for Market Regulation for an inspection, August 16, 2024.

At the Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, Wang Xiaohui viewed a demonstration of the Sichuan Smart Market Governance Center platform in operation and listened to presentations covering various aspects, including the administration and services for food safety in the cultural and tourism market during the summer, the management services for passenger cableways, and the oversight of consumer rights protection for cultural and tourism-related complaints through the 12315 hotline. He emphasized that the cultural and tourism market includes diverse segments, such as scenic spots, catering, accommodation, entertainment and shopping; therefore, enhancing supervision and management is vital for fostering a favorable environment for cultural and tourism activities. On the one hand, it is crucial to step up law enforcement inspections targeting the issues that tourists frequently complain about, such as deceptive advertising, unannounced price hikes, and coerced shopping, and rigorously penalize all forms of illegal and non-compliant actions to bring order to the cultural and tourism market. On the other hand, it is essential to keep complaint and reporting channels open and responsive, ensuring that issues raised are dealt with swiftly and effectively, thereby safeguarding the legal rights and interests of tourists visiting Sichuan. At the Special Equipment Safety Supervision Division, Wang Xiaohui inquired in detail about the safe operation of large amusement facilities, passenger cableways, and other special equipment at scenic spots, as well as the preparedness of emergency response plans for accidents. He required maintaining constant vigilance over safety issues, prioritizing the identification and rectification of potential safety hazards in facilities like conveyances and fire-fighting equipment, and strengthening safety supervision over the operation of all types of special equipment, thereby ensuring that tourists visiting Sichuan have a pleasant and safe journey. Wang Xiaohui emphasized that during the summer travel season, which coincides with the flood season, there is a need to pay high attention to the threats posed by various natural disasters, bolster regular inspections and risk assessments in mountainous and water-related scenic areas, and take decisive and systematic actions to guide tourists away from danger in the event of extreme weather conditions, helping them to evacuate from emergencies and avoid disasters.

During his inspection, Wang Xiaohui noted that the cultural and tourism industry is not only a significant driver of economic development but also a key factor in satisfying the intellectual and cultural life needs of the people. The Resolution adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee outlines significant plans for the cultural and tourism sector, including "deepening reforms in the cultural sector", "refining institutions and mechanisms for promoting the full integration of culture and tourism", and "refining the mechanisms for supplying cultural services and products". We must implement these directives in line with our actual circumstances, adhere to the principle of using culture to shape tourism and tourism to highlight culture, scientifically plan reform measures in the sector, further activate and make good use of cultural and tourism resources, enrich and expand the supply of high-quality cultural and tourism offerings, adopt multiple measures to promote related consumption, continue to energize the cultural and tourism economy, accelerate the construction of a culturally and tourism-strong province, and strive to create a world-class tourist destination.

Provincial leaders Zheng Li and Yang Xingping, as well as leading officials from relevant provincial departments, participated in the inspection.