A delegation from the HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College at Hainan University (HAITC) paid a visit to Bohou village in Sanya and Hainan Binglanggu Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park in South China's Hainan province from July 23 to 24 and signed memorandums of cooperation.

Local officials including Su Shaohong, Wang Peng and Tan Zhongxian explained to the delegation Bohou village's beautiful countryside program and its homestay industry.

Representatives from HAITC and Bohou village in Sanya, Hainan province, discuss cooperation. [Photo/WeChat account: HAITC]

The village is inhabited by the Yi ethnic group and is one of the old revolutionary bases in Sanya. Villagers in Bohou had to rely on crude agriculture to make a living due to the saline-alkali land in local areas. Their per capita income was 5,200 yuan ($768.84) in 2012. In 2013, they were inspired to generate income through land rental and working in scenic spots and hotels, raising their per capita disposable income to 7,400 yuan.

Bohou village started the beautiful countryside program in June 2017, and villagers seized the opportunity to develop homestays, land leasing and courtyard economy. They started to work for enterprises, which greatly increased their income. In 2021, their per capita income soared to 28,600 yuan, said local officials.

Wang Lin, dean of HAITC, expressed her appreciation for the village’s achievements in promoting rural revitalization. She also talked about measures to facilitate Bohou in developing its tourism industry.

HAITC grants a plaque writing “Off-campus Practice, Teaching and Research Base” to Bohou village. [Photo/WeChat account: HAITC]

HAITC teachers offered suggestions on the village’s homestay industry upgrading, marketing, school-enterprise cooperation and study tour.

After the meeting, the two sides signed a memorandum of cooperation. He Yingmin, Party secretary of the CPC HAITC committee, granted a plaque of “Off-campus Practice, Teaching and Research Base” to Bohou village on behalf of HAITC.

Members of the HAITC delegation talk with officials from Hainan Binglanggu Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park on July 24. [Photo/WeChat account: HAITC]

The delegation visited Hainan Binglanggu Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park on July 24. Park officials extended a warm welcome to the group and introduced the development of the scenic area and its talents cultivation.

As China’s first 5A-level scenic spot featuring ethnic culture and a national intangible cultural heritage productive protection demonstration base, the park has in mind the missions to explore, protect, inherit and develop the culture of Hainan’s Li and Miao ethnic groups amid the efforts to display the indigenous culture to the world.

The dean elaborated on HAITC’s advantages in the worldwide promotion of tourism products. The two sides agreed to include the park as one of the venues for the college’s annual World Tourism Day event next year.

HAITC delivers a plaque to Hainan Binglanggu Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park on July 24. [Photo/WeChat account: HAITC]

After the meeting, HAITC and the park signed a memorandum of cooperation.