On the morning of June 2, the WTCF Beijing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2026 opened at the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center. Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Mayor of Beijing, and Chairman of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Council, attended and addressed the event.

Yin Yong said that tourism is an important channel for exchanges and mutual learning among different countries and cultures, an effective means of driving economic growth and increasing employment, and an important industry for meeting people’s aspirations for a better life. In recent years, Beijing has continued to deepen the integrated development of culture and tourism, accelerate technological innovation, and create an enabling environment, steadily developing into a world-class tourism city and global tourist destination. Digital and intelligent technologies are profoundly reshaping the present and future of the tourism industry. He put forward three proposals for the future development of world tourism cities. First, leverage digital and intelligent technologies to jointly shape new forms of tourism. Efforts should be made to intensify R&D and application of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, introduce more new business forms such as virtual tours, and harness science and technology to empower tourism. Second, put services first and jointly create new drivers for tourism development. Cities should further tap into their cultural heritage, enrich the supply of tourism products, and optimize service standards and procedures, so as to deliver better travel experiences for visitors. Third, strengthen cooperation to jointly forge a new paradigm of mutual benefit. Efforts should be made to improve the global cooperation system, promote the free flow and coordination of tourism resources and factors, and bring greater benefits to all peoples. He said the WTCF is an important platform for exchanges and cooperation among tourism cities. It will continue to serve as a bridge, keep improving service quality, and work with all members to promote the prosperity of global tourism.

Elvis La Torre Uñaccori, Mayor of Machu Picchu, Peru; Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC); and Gao Zheng, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, delivered addresses in succession. At the opening ceremony, the World Tourism Destination Competitiveness Index 2026 — The Digital City Edition, Ten Application Scenarios of Science and Technology in Cultural Tourism in Beijing, and the Beijing Initiative were also released, and a welcome ceremony was held for new members. Under the theme “Smart Tourism, Better Future”, this summit includes activities such as the Mayor’s Forum, Forum on Cross-Border Tourism, and exhibitions.

Sima Hong, Vice Mayor of Beijing and Executive Vice Chair of the WTCF Council, and Zeng Jin, Secretary General of the Beijing Municipal Government, attended the event.