Hainan Tourism Seminar in Madrid Strengthens China–Spain Links

Tourism Cooperation Between Hainan and Madrid Gains Momentum

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, China, recently held a tourism promotion seminar at the China Cultural Centre in Madrid. The event focused on strengthening cultural and tourism cooperation between Hainan and Spain.

The seminar brought together key stakeholders, including Yang Changqing, Director of the China Cultural Centre in Madrid, and Aranzazu Urbina Álvarez, Deputy Director for Sustainability and Tourism Development for the Community of Madrid. Representatives from more than 30 businesses, travel agencies, and industry associations also attended.

Participants discussed opportunities for collaboration across cultural exchange, development, and travel trade partnerships. Local stakeholders showed interest in Hainan’s offerings and engaged directly with the visiting delegation to explore potential business and promotional initiatives.

Yang Changqing said the seminar offered Spanish travel professionals a clearer understanding of developments in China’s inbound market. She noted that stronger cooperation could support joint products and encourage two-way visitor flows.

Aranzazu Urbina Álvarez highlighted the importance of dialogue in sustainable tourism. She also expressed interest in visiting Hainan Province to better understand its landscape and identify potential collaboration opportunities.

Cultural exchange between Hainan and Madrid has increased over the past year. Events such as Hainan Food Week in Madrid have introduced local audiences to the island’s culture and cuisine. In addition, Hainan has established a promotion office in Madrid to support ongoing stakeholder engagement.

Wang Yuechuan, Director of the International and Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan Market Promotion Division, said that work is underway to introduce a direct flight route between Madrid and Haikou. Efforts are also being made to improve services for international travellers, including payment systems and multilingual support, to make travel more accessible for European visitors.