HONG KONG, Oct. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Yunnan specialties impressed the world on the sidelines of the Greater Bay Area Conference 2025: Financial Connectivity, Nurturing Talent, Building Cultural Bridges event, co-organized by China Daily and Hong Kong Coalition, held on Oct 23 in Hong Kong.

Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism displayed some of its local specialties at the event, including coffee, black tea and dessert.

Chen Jibin, sales director of the South China region of Yunnan’s tea brand Chen Sheng Hong, said the tea company is looking to establish its presence in Hong Kong, adding that he believes the city, with its profound tea-drinking history, presents a large business opportunity.

The connections between Hong Kong and Yunnan have been growing; since more Hong Kong residents have been traveling to Yunnan for tourism, their appreciation of the local culture has been growing, he said.

“Hong Kong serves as a gateway to the world — we want Yunnan’s coffee aroma to spread globally,” said Wang Ruogu, founder of Terre •Petales, a Yunnan-based flower-fermented coffee brand. Meanwhile, the classic Yunnan Arabica — combined with the origin story of the “Hometown of Chinese Coffee” — has become an ideal medium for guests to explore Yunnan’s rich coffee culture and tourism appeal.

Beyond tea and coffee, guests were also captivated by Yunnan’s signature wild mushroom biscuits and sauces, whose authentic flavors and creative presentation showcased the province’s rich biodiversity and culinary innovation. At the Yunnan booth, they also browsed tourism brochures under the theme, “Yunnan: A Many-Splendored Life,” gaining deeper insight into the province’s rich cultural and natural charm.

During the Greater Bay Area Conference 2025, performers from Yunnan Gengma National Song and Dance Troupe, presented an intangible cultural heritage dance: a medley of the Yunnan Water-Splashing Dance, which amazed all high-profile delegates. This dance and music are performed by the Dai people during traditional festivals such as the Water-Splashing Festival, representing an important part of the region’s intangible cultural heritage.

From tea to coffee, and from mushrooms to an intangible cultural heritage performance, Yunnan showcased its specialty as a bridge for global dialogue at the Greater Bay Area Conference 2025, from Hong Kong to the world. These products, carrying the province’s ecological strengths and rich cultural heritage, have made the concept of “Yunnan: A Many-Splendored Life” tangible and inspiring, while also fueling Yunnan’s industrial upgrading and brand globalization. To the world, Yunnan is no longer just a place on the map — it is the “next travel destination” that awakens the soul.

BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On October 27th, 2025, in Busan, South Korea – the opening session of the 1st Global City Tourism Summit (GCTS 2025) took place under the chairmanship of Mr. Park Heong-joon, Mayor of Busan. Representing the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department and head of the delegation, attended the summit and organized the Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Program within the event framework.

The program aims to enhance the promotion of Ho Chi Minh City as a destination and Vietnam as a whole, expand cooperation relations, and update global tourism development trends. It also contributes to strengthening the relationship and fostering cooperation in culture, tourism, trade, and investment between Ho Chi Minh City and Busan on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their relationship and cooperation relations.

Purpose and Strategic Significance

The Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Program at the 1st Global City Tourism Summit (GCTS 2025) in Busan, South Korea, is not merely a promotional activity but a strategic step affirming Ho Chi Minh City’s position on the Asian and global tourism map.

Its key objectives include:

• Introducing and promoting the image of Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City tourism to the international community and tourism partners in Busan, South Korea.
• Engaging and exchanging insights on new global tourism development trends, particularly in innovation, technology applications (AI), sustainable tourism development, and cultural tourism branding, serving Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism development orientation.
• Establishing and leveraging partnerships with Busan-based tourism entities to seek quality buyers for the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) 2026.
• Networking with Korean partners and TPO (Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities) members to discuss strategic directions and explore cooperation opportunities for developing Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism industry in the near future.

Key Activities of the Promotion Program

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism delegation had carried out the following main activities in Busan:

1. Participation in the Global City Tourism Summit (GCTS 2025) from October 27th–29th, 2025, at Paradise Hotel Busan and Gunam Street Exhibition Area, including plenary sessions and high-level dialogues.
2. Organization of the “Meet and Work with Tourism Partners” (G2B) Program on October 28th, 2025, at Paradise Hotel, serving as a bridge for Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism industry to connect and collaborate directly with tourism enterprises and associations in Busan. The event will also officially introduce the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) 2026.
3. Implementation of a Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Destination Booth on October 26th–27th, 2025, along Gunam-ro Street, Haeundae, designed to be appealing and tailored to Korean market preferences.

DENPASAR, Indonesia, Oct. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The skies of Bali once again hold hope. After years of silence in its tropical forests, the distinctive calls of the Red-breasted Parakeet (Trichoglossus forsteni mitchellii) may soon echo once more across its native land. This brightly colored parrot species was once an integral part of the ecosystems of Bali and Lombok. Today, however, it is listed as Endangered, threatened by illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss. Yet, sightings of 6–7 wild individuals in 2020, followed by photographic records in 2022 and 2023, reveal that Bali has not completely lost its natural voice. Amid the dense canopy, there remains a glimmer of hope that this bird has not entirely vanished from the wild.

The recovery of this species began with an intensive training program in January 2025 at Taman Safari Bali, in collaboration with the Head Keeper of Paradise Park, UK. The training covered animal husbandry, nesting box design, and understanding natural behaviors essential foundations before the planned repatriation of 20 Red-breasted Parakeets (10 males and 10 females) from Paradise Park in Cornwall to Bali on July 17, 2025. This long journey represents more than the relocation of birds; it symbolizes the return of a piece of Bali’s lost natural soul.

This major step is the result of a strong collaboration between Taman Safari Indonesia, the World Parrot Trust, and Paradise Park. These three institutions share the same commitment: to restore the population of Indonesia’s endemic parrots to their rightful home. Upon arrival, the 20 parakeets became the first residents of the Lorikeet Breeding Center, a new facility inaugurated on September 26, 2025, Taman Safari Bali. The center was designed as both a temporary home and a controlled breeding site for the Red-breasted Parakeet before their eventual release into the wild.

“This Lorikeet Breeding Center is designed to support a controlled breeding program that is release-oriented connecting ex situ to in situ. Our hope is to once again hear the vibrant calls of the Mitchell’s Lorikeet echoing through the forests of Bali and Lombok,” said Jansen Manansang, Founder of Taman Safari Indonesia.

The opening of the Lorikeet Breeding Center marks a milestone in Indonesia’s conservation history. This facility is not only a product of collaboration between Taman Safari and international partners but also a reflection of the Indonesian government’s strong commitment through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA). Together, all parties share one goal: to ensure that the Red-breasted Parakeet’s vibrant calls once again resonate in Bali’s skies. True conservation cannot be achieved alone; it thrives through the synergy of science, policy, and collective compassion for life’s continuity.

“This project is a wonderful example of collaboration, proving that the dedication of teams across the world can achieve remarkable things for nature.” from an international perspective, David Woolcock, Curator of Paradise Park.

As a symbol of hope, a pair of breeding parakeets were named Galih and Arya, representing strength and courage. Other individuals, such as Ni Luh Atit and Ketut Atat, were given traditional Balinese names as a tribute to local culture. In the Balinese language, “Atat” means “curved beak,” a simple yet meaningful term that now serves as a symbol of pride and identity for this endemic species. Through these names, people are reminded that wildlife is not only part of nature’s balance but also a reflection of local culture and identity.

Every parakeet born at the Lorikeet Breeding Center will undergo a habituation process before being released into the wild. They will learn to recognize their environment, find food, form pairs, and adapt to natural conditions. Once they display strong natural behaviors, the forest doors will open again. Beyond saving a single species, this program seeks to restore the ecological role of the Red-breasted Parakeet as a natural pollinator and seed disperser vital to forest regeneration.

The program “Kedis Mewali ke Bali” meaning “the bird returns home” stands as a powerful symbol of renewed harmony between humans and nature. It tells the story of a species once lost, now slowly finding its way back. And one day, when the melodic calls of the Red-breasted Parakeet once again echo among Bali’s lush trees, it will mark the moment when nature truly breathes again when the island’s spirit, and its birds, have finally come home.

“Balai KSDA Bali wholeheartedly supports and opens wide opportunities for collaboration with all stakeholders to protect wildlife and their habitats for a more sustainable future.” said Ratna Hendratmoko, Head of Balai KSDA Bali.