The School of Tourism Management at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) recently welcomed a delegation from Kasetsart University, Thailand, for an exchange that brought cultural heritage and tourism studies into conversation.

Through a traditional Chinese paper-cutting workshop and academic discussions on tourism and heritage interpretation, faculty members and students from the two universities shared perspectives and explored common interests.

The exchange is presided by Ms. Yang Lingshan, secretary of foreign affairs of the School of Tourism Management.

Culture provided a starting point for the exchange. Guided by SYSU students, members of the Thai delegation tried their hand at Chinese paper-cutting, turning sheets of red paper into intricate designs. The workshop also opened up conversations about traditional arts and crafts in both countries, offering participants a chance to learn about one another's cultural traditions through hands-on experience.

The exchange then turned to the role of tourism in connecting people with places and cultural heritage.

Associate Professor Chayapoj Lee-Anant, Director of the KITMAN (Kasetsart Integrated Tourism Management) Project at Kasetsart University, introduced the project, while members of the KITMAN team shared insights into Thailand's tourism sector and their ongoing research.

Associate Professor Chayapoj Lee-Anant

Professor Liu Yi of the School of Tourism Management presented the School's international research collaborations and exchange programs.

Professor Liu Yi

Associate Professor Gao Jun of the School of Tourism Management delivered a presentation delivered a presentation titled "Rethinking Heritage Value Communication through Tourism: Observation and Practice." Drawing on the Panda Ambassador workshop organized by the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Tourism in UNESCO Designated Sites and the School of Tourism Management, he explored how tourism-related activities can offer new ways to interpret and communicate the value of cultural heritage.

Associate Professor Gao Jun

The presentations prompted discussion among faculty members and students, highlighting shared interests in tourism research and opportunities for further academic exchange.

Beyond the discussions, SYSU student guides introduced the Thai delegation to the university's Zhuhai campus, sharing its history, academic traditions and distinctive coastal setting. The visit gave the guests a closer look at campus life while creating further opportunities for informal interaction between students from the two universities.

By bringing together cultural experience, academic exchange and student engagement, the visit offered a platform for SYSU and Kasetsart University to explore the connections between tourism, cultural heritage and international understanding.