An Italian exchange
A year of cultural and tourism activities kicks off as China and Italy join hands to celebrate, Yang Feiyue reports.
Italy is working on attracting Chinese visitors outside the normal tourism seasons and to areas beyond the major art cities.
"We have a lot of resorts, and we have the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. There are plenty of attractions for Chinese tourism," Ferrari says.
The head of the China Tourism Academy, Dai Bin, believes the two countries have a lot to share and learn from each other.
"China and Italy are both ancient civilizations with the highest volume of the world's cultural heritage sites," Dai says.
"Italy has a lot to teach other countries in the field of cultural-heritage protection, inheritance and use."
China can draw on Italy's experience to protect its cultural heritage, such as the Palace Museum, the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, while better integrating culture and tourism, Dai says.
At the same time, China has successful experience in fast tourism development to share.
The country's digital and smart-tourism development, featuring big data, mobile internet and well-known online travel-service providers, such as Ctrip and Mafengwo, has drastically changed travelers' habits and consumption, Dai says.
