2026 Chongqing Intl Travel Agents Conference kicks off

The 2026 Chongqing International Travel Agents Conference opens in Chongqing on April 25. [photo provided to China.org.cn]

The 2026 Chongqing International Travel Agents Conference opened on April 25, with Thailand as the Guest of Honor. 

The event brought together nearly 300 participants from almost 40 countries and regions, including diplomats, tourism officials, travel agents, media, and airline representatives, making it the highest-level and most internationally influential edition since 2018.

Attendees came from traditional source markets (Europe, U.S., Japan, South Korea: ~40%), emerging markets (Oceania, Central Asia, South Asia: ~33%), and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan (~27%).

During the conference, Chongqing's culture and tourism commission signed cooperation agreements with tourism authorities of Thailand and Sri Lanka. The event highlighted integrated "culture plus tourism" models, including aviation, medical, and tech tourism, along with over ten intangible cultural heritage items and local delicacies.

A business matchmaking session saw over 300 representatives from travel agents, airlines, hotels, and scenic spots hold one-on-one talks, reaching multiple initial cooperation intentions.

Chongqing received over 2 million inbound visitors in 2025 (up 68.2% year-on-year), and inbound volume in Q1 2026 grew 60.3%. The conference runs until April 30, followed by inspection tours across Chongqing's districts and counties.