This summer, Zibo barbecue has been making headlines and attracting large tourist crowds for months. [Photo/IC]

The China Cultural Tourism Enterprise Cooperation and Development Conference is scheduled to be held in Zibo, Shandong province from Nov 7 to 8, officials of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism announced at a news conference on Nov 1.

With the slogan "Joining Hands with 'Friendly Shandong' for a Win-Win Future in the Cultural and Tourism Industry", the conference aims to establish a cooperation platform for domestic and international cultural and tourism enterprises, boost the vitality of the industry, and expand the attraction of investment, talent, and expertise in the cultural and tourism sector, said Shandong officials.

The event will include an opening ceremony, a main forum, parallel forums such as a project matchmaking session for the tourism and accommodation industry, and a forum for the iterative upgrading of scenic spots and holiday resorts. It will also feature events such as cultural and tourism experiences and a tour for renowned cultural and tourism entrepreneurs in Shandong.

Tourists dressed in traditional costume visit Daming Lake in Jinan, capital of Shandong province. [Photo/IC]

The main forum will consist of keynote speeches and roundtable discussions. High-level experts, including tourism administrative officials, senior members of professional associations, renowned scholars from top universities, and leaders from leading cultural and tourism enterprises, will be invited to share their diverse expertise and different perspectives.

A parallel forum for project matching in the province's tourism accommodation industry will also be held. Twelve top international hotel chains, such as Marriott, InterContinental, Hilton, and Shangri-La, 11 leading domestic chain brands including Jin Jiang and Huazhu, and four Shandong-based hotel groups will attend the event.

Shandong's 16 cities will also promote their tourism accommodation development resources and key cultural tourism projects at the conference.

Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong. [Photo/IC]