Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) hosted the opening ceremony of Chongqing’s first training program for multilingual cultural tourism professionals on Nov. 30 at the Hongwen Building International Lecture Hall. Vice President Wang Renqiang and Zhu Mao, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Culture and Tourism Development Commission, attended the event.

In his remarks, Wang noted that Chongqing has led the nation in inbound-tourism growth in recent years. With increasing numbers of visitors from Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, he said the shortage of multilingual tourism professionals has become a major barrier to helping the city move from simply “attracting visitors” to truly “retaining visitors.”

Zhu emphasized that the program will deepen two-way engagement between Chongqing and Southeast Asian partners and inject new energy into the city’s inbound-tourism sector. He urged trainees to broaden their global perspectives, strengthen their professional skills and use the platform to enhance their own development while contributing to the internationalization of Chongqing’s cultural tourism industry.

Following the ceremony, Chen Yanli, director of the Commission’s Division of International Exchanges and Cooperation, and Yang Shengqiang, senior national bilingual tour guide and board member of the Chongqing Tour Guide Association, delivered keynote training sessions to the inaugural cohort.

The program has enrolled 100 participants from across the city. Training is designed to strengthen practical skills in Vietnamese, Thai, Malay and other languages used in cultural-tourism settings. Upon completion, trainees who pass assessments will receive certification and be included in Chongqing’s new talent pool for multilingual tourism services.

The curriculum, developed around SISU’s disciplinary strengths, follows an integrated model of “language enhancement + skills training + intercultural communication + scenario-based practice.” The goal is to prepare trainees not only to “speak foreign languages well,” but also to “tell Chongqing’s story effectively.”

The program is guided by the Chongqing Municipal Culture and Tourism Development Commission and jointly implemented by SISU’s School of International Business, School of Eastern Languages and Cultures, Chongqing Art School, Chongqing Culture and Tourism Association, Chongqing Tour Guide Association and other partners. Representatives from these organizations and SISU attended the opening ceremony.