Wang Dongfeng, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), led a team of non-Communist Party of China (CPC) members of the CPPCC National Committee on a survey tour in Southwest China's Yunnan province from June 14 to 18. 

The survey focused on improving systems and mechanisms for the deep integration of culture and tourism for the sector's high-quality development.

The team conducted both joint and group visits to the cities of Kunming, Pu'er, and Lijiang, as well as Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture and Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, to survey local progress in ecological conservation, the development of distinctive industries, and the integration of culture and tourism. Through on-site inspections and in-depth exchanges with cultural and tourism professionals, business representatives, grassroots officials, and local residents, the team gained a comprehensive understanding of Yunnan's efforts and outcomes in advancing culture-tourism integration and collected feedback and suggestions grounded in local realities.

The team noted that promoting the deep integration of culture and tourism is a strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee based on the overall development of the Party and the country and on the inherent laws governing culture and tourism development. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has achieved historic progress in cultural and tourism development and transformation, yielding fruitful outcomes in the integrated development of the two industries.

The team called for strengthening the Party's leadership, improving relevant systems and mechanisms, enhancing overall coordination, and promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration. Efforts should be made to inherit the fine traditional Chinese culture, advance cultural tourism-driven development of the characteristic products and industries, enhance ecological and living environments and upgrade supporting infrastructure and service systems, in order to increase urban and rural incomes.

They also underscored the importance of fostering the creative transformation and innovative development of ethnic and border-region cultures through cultural-tourism integration.

More efforts should be made to coordinate and utilize cultural and tourism resources such as museums, intangible cultural heritage projects, ecological conservation sites, and cultural and creative products during the integration process, the team added.

The team stressed the need for a global perspective and strengthened international exchange and cooperation in the cultural and tourism sectors. They also underscored the role of CPPCC members in conducting research, offering insights, and putting forward practical proposals to help advance the deep integration of culture and tourism and drive the high-quality development of the industry.