The "Confucius' Hometown, Friendly Shandong" UAE-China Shandong Province Cultural Tourism Industry Exchange is held in Dubai, UAE, on April 29 (local time). [Photo/Dazhong News]

The "Confucius' Hometown, Friendly Shandong" UAE-China Shandong Province Cultural Tourism Industry Exchange was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on April 29 during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in the UAE from April 28 to May 1.

The Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism presented Shandong's intangible cultural heritage and cultural creative products, emphasizing the province's strengths in culture and tourism.

The event included a Qingdao-themed photo exhibition and a display of Shandong's unique intangible cultural heritage, gathering around 40 representatives from key travel agencies in the UAE and Shandong.

A senior director of marketing and sales at Cozmo Travel, part of UAE's Arabian Aviation Group, expressed the allure of Shandong's rich history, folk customs, and marine resources to Arab tourists. He hoped for improved multilingual services and international payment options to enhance the inbound travel experience.

During the event, representatives from Shandong's culture and tourism department introduced the province's cultural and tourism resources, along with policies on tourism incentives for inbound travelers. The Qingdao and Yantai municipal bureaus of culture and tourism also promoted various customized travel routes to the local audience.

In recent years, Shandong and the UAE have developed close exchanges in culture and tourism. This event provided a platform for industry professionals from both regions to share experiences, deepen friendships, and seek mutual development through collaboration and mutual benefits.

As the largest professional tourism exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa region, ATM focused on facilitating discussions and partnerships between domestic and international travel businesses, attracting participants from around the world.