From September 10 to 12, the 2026 "Rainforest and You" International Symposium on Tropical Rainforest National Park was held in Baoting Li and Miao autonomous county, Hainan province. The symposium, themed "Protecting the Rainforest, Sharing the Future," focused on key topics such as biodiversity conservation and rural revitalization, upgrading ecotourism, and leveraging cutting-edge technology for national park management. Over 400 representatives from government, academia, and media attended, with major outlets like Xinhua News Agency and CCTV providing extensive coverage. The event attracted over 500,000 online viewers.

The HNU-ASU International College (HAIC) co-hosted the event, organizing Parallel Forum Two on "Ecotourism in National Parks Boosting Community Livelihoods." This forum addressed "Visitor Management and Ecological Carrying Capacity" and "Visitor Engagement and Community Co-construction."

At the forum, faculty from HAIC and Arizona State University (ASU) presented research findings. Topics included carrying capacity assessment, visitor behavior management, and sustainable tourism frameworks, addressing real challenges faced by Hainan's tropical rainforest national park.

Professor Kathleen L. Andereck, a tenured professor and director at ASU, discussed visitor carrying capacity. Her report emphasized that carrying capacity should consider both visitor experience quality and community perception, balancing tourism impacts between protected area management and community well-being.

Professor Kelly Bricker presented on national park concessions and GSTC certification. As ASU's assistant dean and GSTC vice-chair, she argued that concessions should be part of a broader "destination sustainability management" framework, with GSTC standards guiding park managers in strategic planning.

Associate Professor Xiao Xiao introduced a novel approach to social carrying capacity assessment using eye-tracking technology. This method provides detailed physiological and behavioral data, enhancing the precision of social carrying capacity measurements.

Assistant Professor Steven D. Sassaman discussed "Leave No Trace" visitor management strategies, elevating outdoor ethics to a systemic management approach through trail design and behavioral guidance to minimize ecological impact.

From the Qixianling forum to mainstream media coverage, HAIC continues to contribute its international expertise and academic practice to the discourse on ecotourism and community development in Hainan's tropical rainforest national park.