A grand opening ceremony for the Fourth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo is held in Yinchuan on Aug 9. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
The Fourth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo, titled "A Marvel to the World: Good Wine Originates from Unique Terroir," commenced in Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on Aug 9.
Jose Antonio Vidal, Founder and CEO of Global Wine Tourism Organization, attended the expo as a distinguished guest and shared his perspectives on Ningxia wine.
Jose Antonio Vidal, Founder and CEO of Global Wine Tourism Organization, delivers a speech at the expo. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
I am delighted to attend the 4th China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo. My connection with Ningxia began in 2021, which coincided with the first China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo. On behalf of GWTO, I delivered a video speech at the conference, and GWTO awarded Ningxia the title of "Global Wine Tourism Destination". Today, three years later, I personally come to congratulate Ningxia on joining the global wine tourism organization family and becoming an official member of the organization. Let's embark on a beautiful journey together to create a wine tourism destination.
Wine tourism or Eno-tourism, generally speaking, is about learning about the culture and natural heritage of food and wine producing regions. Its scope goes far beyond researching wine-making techniques, grape cultivation, and visiting wineries. Visiting wine producing regions, wine making inspection tours, and wine producing region tours are all about creating a comprehensive and immersive tourism through wine cuisine culture, understanding wine making techniques and tasting skills, and exploring its historical heritage and natural heritage. Visit wine resources located in urban environments such as gastronomy and wine tourism destinations, including wineries, wine specialty stores, and specialty restaurants (brand tourism). By visiting wineries or wine specialty stores, tasting and purchasing wine (shopping tours), we can create urban wine tourism projects.
Of course, wine tourism also integrates heritage tourism that explores cuisine, history, and nature, as well as cultural tourism. Food and wine have become the engines driving the development of tourism agriculture.
The GWTO is a global hub for business and knowledge, food and wine tourism networks composed of public entities, associations, private companies, and academic institutions. It is the only international entity dedicated to wine tourism, defining "sustainability" as focusing on the long-term future and "responsibility" as respect for biology, nature, and the environment. Our aim is to fully fulfill our social and cultural responsibilities, and jointly develop responsible management models with residents of food and wine tourism destinations. On the basis of a responsible management model (Global Wine Tourism Organization Academy), transform agricultural wine production areas into food tourism destinations centered on resident and tourist satisfaction, thereby promoting local socio-economic development. And by optimizing management models, promote responsible and sustainable wine tourism. The Global Wine Tourism Organization brings together the forces of the public sector, private enterprises, and academia to promote the transformation of local agriculture into a tourism industry, transforming wine producing regions into food tourism destinations that focus on resident and customer satisfaction, and supporting socio-economic development.
In addition, we also have a professional team that brings together international professionals in marketing strategies, research, and training, as well as experts in the fields of food, wine tourism, and agricultural tourism. Each expert is an international authority in their respective field and also a network hub. This is crucial for the global wine tourism organization, which has an international structure. Carry out the GWTO Quality and Responsible International Wine Tourism Certification (applicable to wineries and wine tourism destinations) to ensure the satisfaction of tourists' experiences; Conduct relevant education and training through the GWTO Academy training program; Promote through organizing exhibitions and events.
The GWTO will strive to promote the Helan Mountain’s Eastern Foot Region in Ningxia, assist in its international certification, and build Ningxia into a high-quality and responsible wine tourism destination (certified by the GWTO as a high-quality and responsible destination marketing organization). Provide professional consulting services on global wine tourism development strategies, marketing, and brand planning for the wine producing areas on the Helan Mountain’s Eastern Foot Region, support the wine producing area to carry out global promotion activities through the GWTO platform, and support the holding of various international events in this wine producing area; Support obtaining the hosting rights for the GWTO Summit through competitive means to enhance the international status of the Helan Mountain’s Eastern Foot production area; Support the promotion and marketing of food, wine, and tourism products in the GWTO World Food and Tourism Market, and obtain the GWTO Quality Food and Wine Tourism International Certification.
For China and even the world, June 2025 will be a historic moment: at that time, the Brussels International Wine Grand Prix (Ningxia) and the second Global Responsible Wine Tourism Summit of the Global Wine Tourism Organization will be held in China. The simultaneous hosting of two major events will help China become an important destination for world wine and wine tourism.
Moreover GWTO is at the disposal of Ningxia authorities to open a physical location of GWTO International Academy for professional training.
Finally, congratulations once again the Helan Mountain’s Eastern Foot Region on becoming a member of GWTO, and also on the successful completion of this expo.
José Antonio Vidal
GWTO Founder President CEO