This expo was approved by the People's Government of Fujian Province and organized by the China Pacific Society, China Association for Engineering Consulting on Marine Affairs, National Marine Data and Information Service—Island Research Center, Administrative Committee of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone of Fujian Province, Department of Commerce of Fujian Province, and Department of Ocean and Fisheries of Fujian Province. It was hosted by the China Pacific Society and the Rural Development Bureau of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, executed by the Ocean Exhibition Research Branch of the China Pacific Society and Beijing Zhongruitte Exhibition Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone Tourism Group Company and Pingtan Taigu City. Leaders from various organizing units, as well as the Provincial CPPCC and the CCPIT, attended to guide and visit. The expo will run until the 24th.
On-site – Pingtan Ocean Expo
At the opening ceremony of the expo, Ms. Lin Jiangling, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Fujian Province, and Deputy Director of the Free Trade Zone Commission, solemnly announced on behalf of the organizing committee:Starting from 2019, the Pingtan Ocean Tourism and Leisure Sports Expo will be regularly held annually from June 28 to 30 in Pingtan, Fujian, and will be referred to as “Pingtan 628.” Immediately after the conclusion of this year’s expo, preparations for next year’s “Pingtan 628” will begin, officially setting sail for the “Pingtan 628” brand.
Going forward, “Pingtan 628” will follow a clear, long-term strategic plan, meticulously prepare for each edition, strive to enhance the effectiveness of exhibitor and attendee participation, actively expand the scale and influence of the event, and aim to become another globally renowned exhibition brand for Pingtan and even Fujian, following in the footsteps of “Fujian 518” and “618.”
This year’s expo leverages the advantages of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, the International Tourism Island, and the Free Trade Zone.Building on the previous two editions, and centered around the two major themes of ocean tourism and leisure sports, the exhibition has expanded from 13,000 square meters last year to 14,000 square meters.
The site is divided into a Theme Pavilion and an Industry Pavilion. The Theme Pavilion includes the Pingtan Pavilion, the Taiwan Exhibition Area, and the International Exhibition Area. The Industry Pavilion features sections for Ocean Tourism, Leisure Sports, Virtual Reality (VR) + Tourism/Entertainment, and Sports. It has focused on inviting exhibitors from industries that align with Pingtan’s reality and have market potential, such as boats, wooden houses, RVs, travel agencies, travel merchandise, outdoor gear, leisure sports, and VR + tourism/entertainment. With over 160 exhibitors, including more than 30 international exhibitors from the UK, Germany, Canada, Brazil, South Korea, Thailand, Palau, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and over 40 Taiwanese exhibitors, the proportion of international and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan exhibitors is relatively high. This highlights Pingtan’s important role and prominent status in cross-strait exchanges, showcasing an international flair and providing a solid platform for Pingtan to go global and for the world to engage with Pingtan.
A participating enterprise stated in an interview that in recent years, ocean tourism and leisure sports have gained increasing popularity with great market potential. The Pingtan International Ocean Tourism and Leisure Sports Expo provides a platform for exchanges, cooperation, and development between enterprises and between enterprises and audiences, which will boost the development and upgrading of the ocean tourism and leisure sports industry.
Unlike previous editions, to elevate the quality and expand the influence of the expo, this year’s event also featured multiple concurrent forums. Government leaders and over 40 renowned experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs in global ocean tourism from China, Norway, France, Italy, and other countries were invited to attend and deliver keynote speeches. At the Pingtan International Ocean Tourism Forum, Chen Yao, former Inspector of the Hainan Provincial Tourism Development Commission; Hilde Bergebakken, CEO of Norway’s Bergebakken Company; Chen Wenbo, Deputy Inspector of the Pingtan Administrative Committee; Armando, President of the Italian Duomo Tourism Association; Li Fengyu, Vice Dean and Professor of the Urban Design Innovation Research Institute at the Central Academy of Fine Arts; Liu Yong, Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Tourism Federation; Arild Molstad, internationally renowned travel culture writer and advisor to the Nordic World Heritage Foundation; Rigmor K. Johnsen, thematic travel expert; Li Mingru, Founder and CEO of Cool Travel Data; Vincent Clouzeau, Senior Maritime Consultant at France’s Seaphora Consulting; Fan Luwei, Vice President of Huao Star and General Manager of Huao Outdoor; Liu Dianfang, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the Fujian Yacht Industry Association; Zhong Minghua, Chairman of the Taiwan Yacht Marina Management Association; Liu Honghui, Founder and CEO of Xiamen Visionary InfoTech Co., Ltd.; and other domestic and international guests, delivered reports on topics such as ocean culture, sustainable tourism development, the future of tourism, the construction of Pingtan International Tourism Island and innovative development of ocean tourism, the path and insights of ocean tourism development under brand leadership, ocean sports culture and urban development, cross-strait yacht freedom of travel, and AR smart tourism systems.
On the 23rd, forums such as the Ocean Tourism Industry and Commercial Integration Development Forum and the Pingtan Taicheng Commercial Brand Meet-and-Greet, as well as the 2018 Summit of the China Southeast Golden Triangle Yacht Industry Alliance and the Pingtan International Tourism Island Yacht Industry Seminar, will also be held.
To increase interactivity and fun, a variety of exciting activities are also available on-site.The 3D Ocean Magic Art Exhibition allows visitors to experience magical 3D ocean visual art up close; the Azure Ocean Public Welfare Art Exhibition displays various ocean-themed works to convey ocean conservation awareness. In the presence of numerous leaders and guests, a ceremony was also held to donate eco-friendly calligraphy and painting artworks to a school in Pingtan; VR experiences such as virtual rafting and kayaking allow audiences to engage in thrilling ocean sports through VR technology; the AR Treasure Hunt game lets participants collect 10 ocean spirits on their phones for on-site prizes; and the parent-child painting competition invites both adults and children to draw their vision of the sea and Pingtan.
It is understood that Pingtan Island in Fujian Province was designated by the Chinese government in August 2016 as the second “International Tourism Island” after Hainan Island, marking a new historical stage in the development and construction of Pingtan Island. Pingtan enjoys unique geographical advantages—as one of China’s four free trade zones and the closest mainland point to Taiwan, it serves as an important window for economic, trade, and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait in China’s southeast maritime frontier. The hosting of the expo will support the development of Pingtan International Tourism Island and promote the construction of Pingtan as an international hub for ocean tourism and leisure sports.