The city of Baotou launched a forum dedicated to developing cultural tourism in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Sunday, welcoming guests from all over the world to embark on a leisurely journey in the region.

The opening ceremony of the event marked the start of focused efforts to boost the region's cultural tourism. It was co-hosted by the regional culture and tourism department and the Baotou municipal government.

Key initiatives were unveiled during the ceremony, including Inner Mongolia's first batch of renowned tourism counties, new road trip and immersive travel products, and integrated development plans linking culture, tourism, sports, commerce, transport, and agriculture.

Baotou is building itself into a cultural powerhouse by revitalizing assets to create new attractions. It is leveraging this event to attract global visitors seeking leisure and cultural enrichment.

Zhang Xu, president of the World Tourism Alliance, attended the ceremony. He noted that Inner Mongolia boasts a long history, rich culture, and beautiful scenery.

"In recent years, the region has developed natural landscapes, such as grasslands, deserts, and forests, to establish itself as a vital gateway for China's northward opening-up," Zhang said.

The World Tourism Alliance is a comprehensive, global, non-profit, and non-governmental tourism organization established in China in 2017, according to its website.