Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

80,000 people participate in 16th World Leisure Congress

80,000 people participate in 16th World Leisure Congress
April 21, 2021

More than 80,000 people participated, through the online and offline modes, in last week’s 16th World Leisure Congress, held at the Jinhai Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in the Pinggu District of the Chinese capital of Beijing.

With the theme of ‘Leisure Makes Life Better’, the Congress, held from 16th to 18th April, consisted of the opening ceremony, the main forum, 14 parallel sub-forums, the China (Beijing) International Leisure Industry Exposition, award ceremony, nine featured activities and the closing ceremony, which attracted over 110,000 visitors.

Presenting, via a combination of online and offline means, Chinese and international concepts on the future of leisure, the Executive Committee Office of the 2020 Beijing Pinggu World Leisure Congress sees that the event has yielded fruitful results.

The main forum of the Congress featured United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Executive Director, Zhu Shanzhong; World Leisure Organization, Chief Operating Officer Cristina Ortega; Ou Xiaoli Director of China’s Social Affairs Department and the National Development and Reform Commission, and Shan Jixiang, former Director of Beijing’s Palace Museum addressing the conference theme, proposing in-depth explanations of current industry and lifestyle trends.

The 14 parallel sub-forums focused on how leisure is closely related to people's lives with 162 experts and scholars contributing 342 papers and 332 abstracts.

Featured leisure activities such as China International Mind Games Challenge, Beijing International Peach Culture Forum and Peach Garden Calligraphy were held during the congress to attract the participation of the general public.

In particular, the activities such as the Peach Blossom Grand Stage Folk Culture Exhibition and Peach Garden Calligraphy blend traditional Chinese culture and some Western cultures with unique features, showing that Beijing has a profound cultural foundation and Pinggu boasts unique leisure charm.

Chen Dong, Director-General of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, said in a speech at the closing ceremony that the Congress had expanded its "circle of friends" in Beijing with the communication transcending barriers and demonstrating the vitality of China's leisure industry.

Images: Delegates at the 2020 Beijing Pinggu World Leisure Congress (top) and the opening of the China (Beijing) International Leisure Industry Exposition (below) Credit: Executive Committee Office of the 2020 Beijing Pinggu World Leisure Congress.

Related Articles

30th March 2021 - World Leisure Day to be celebrated for the first time on 16th April

15th March 2021 - New UNWTO report on global travel restrictions shows slowing of easing measures

10th March 2021 - FIBO China set to be staged as hybrid event with world’s first post-COVID on-site fitness show

30th December 2020 - Almost half of China’s 1.4 billion population spend less than US$150 a year on leisure activities

10th December 2020 - World Leisure invites abstracts for ‘hybrid’ 16th Congress

13th October 2020 - World Leisure releases 2020 Charter for Leisure

18th September 2020 - Beijing Culture and Tourism to hold online forum addressing China’s capital’s response to international tourism

12th September 2020 - World Leisure invites submissions for Awards program

3rd March 2020 - World Leisure names Canadian professor as first female chair

18th November 2019 - 2020 World Leisure Congress to explore how ‘Leisure makes life better’

31st October 2019 - World Leisure announces 2019 International Innovation Prize results

17th September 2019 - World Leisure looks to China

23rd June 2019 - World Leisure looks to build global excellence network

10th May 2019 - New World Leisure program aims to build a global excellence network

12th November 2018 - Dunedin to host 2022 World Leisure Congress

4th September 2015 - China ready to host the World Leisure Games

20th February 2015 - World Leisure headquarters relocates to Spain

19th November 2010 - Forget Leisure: Focus on the Experience Industry