By UOW Malaysia 

The vibrant city of Hangzhou, China, recently hosted the Digital Cultural Tourism Industry-Academia Alliance International Conference, held from 30 June to 3 July 2025. This landmark event, attended by more than 110 Chinese and foreign institutions and enterprises, brought together global leaders from academia and industry to strengthen collaboration and explore innovations shaping the future of cultural tourism.

UOW Malaysia was represented by Professor Dr Hon Wei Min, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Chef Alex Chia Sheng Da, Lecturer, School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts, who actively participated in the conference’s robust program of speeches, panels, workshops, and networking sessions. Professor Hon also delivered a talk titled “Global Talent on the Move: Rethinking Mobility in Hospitality and Tourism”.

The conference aimed to bridge academic research with industry needs, fostering the exchange of best practices in digital heritage and tourism innovation. It also laid the groundwork for future collaborations. Hangzhou’s blend of rich cultural heritage and cutting-edge infrastructure provided the perfect backdrop for this forward-looking international engagement.