The 2025 GWTO Enotourism Conference concludes to great fanfare in Yantai, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/WeChat account: yantaifabu]

Asia's sole International Vine and Wine City – Yantai in East China's Shandong province – successfully hosted the 2025 Global Wine Tourism Organization Enotourism Conference, which concluded on July 5 with some impressive outcomes.

The Declaration of the 2025 GWTO Enotourism Conference (Yantai), unveiled at the closing ceremony, established "promoting responsible enotourism" as a shared global initiative. It calls for respecting the cultural uniqueness of wine regions, building a worldwide cooperation network for enotourism, developing cross-regional, immersive travel routes, and integrating sustainability into winery construction and visitor experiences.

The GWTO recognized Yantai Vocational College of Culture and Tourism, Helan Mountain's East Foothill Wine Industrial Park, and Universidad de Cuyo (Argentina) are its first official partners, forming a network spanning over 10 countries. This breakthrough signifies a major step forward in establishing a global, standardized talent development system to support the industry with skilled professionals.

GWTO President Jose Antonio awarded Penglai district, Yantai, the title of "Distinctive Coastal Enotourism Destination", recognizing its innovative approach in blending coastal terroir, rich wine heritage, and cultural tourism.

The conference also honored 12 global wineries with the "International Responsible Enotourism Case" distinction, including Chateau Changyu, Longting Vineyard, and Mystic Island Winery. In addition, it was announced that the 2026 GWTO Enotourism Conference will be held in Alentejo, Portugal.