Sanya Island, Hainan | June 8, 2025 — Mr. Qaiser Nawab, Chairman of the Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD) and a globally recognized youth leader, participated as the youngest panelist in the high-level panel discussion titled “Hainan vs. World-Class Island Destinations: Bridging the Gap in Tourist Experience”, held during the Overseas Tour Operators Hainan Tour 2025 in Sanya Island, Hainan Province.
The landmark event brought together more than 700 international tour operators, tourism professionals, and stakeholders from across the globe to explore ways of enhancing Hainan’s tourism offerings. The Chief Guest, Professor Liu Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan Province, held an exclusive meeting and hosted a lunch for the panelists, where he outlined the province’s future-oriented tourism strategy and welcomed innovative ideas to boost Hainan’s global competitiveness.
During the panel discussion, Mr. Nawab emphasized the need to align Hainan’s tourism approach with evolving global trends. He particularly highlighted the importance of digital storytelling, influencer marketing, and engaging the youth bulge as key components of a modern, sustainable tourism ecosystem.
“Young people are not just travelers—they are digital ambassadors. Their presence on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube has immense power to influence family travel decisions and shape destination trends. By empowering youth voices through influencer marketing and immersive storytelling, Hainan can connect deeply with a tech-savvy generation,” Mr. Nawab noted during his speech.
Mr. Nawab also took the opportunity to commend China’s leadership in proposing forward-looking global initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Civilization Initiative, calling them “visionary frameworks for inclusive growth and people-to-people connectivity.”
His remarks received strong endorsement from Governor Liu Xiaoming, who thanked Mr. Nawab for his longstanding work to promote the BRI and commended BRISD’s youth-led efforts to bridge cultures and create sustainable impact through international cooperation.
In a gesture of goodwill and friendship, Mr. Nawab presented a BRISD souvenir to the Governor and extended an official invitation to visit Pakistan, underscoring the strong people-to-people ties and tourism potential between the two regions.
Mr. Nawab also put forward several innovative proposals for the advancement of Hainan’s tourism sector:
• Hosting a Governor’s Conference in Sanya, inviting governors from globally renowned tourist regions to share expertise and foster collaborative tourism strategies.
• Establishing a “Friends of Hainan” International Tourism Club, a global network of tourism ambassadors and professionals committed to promoting Hainan’s charm across continents.
The BRISD delegation, comprising five dynamic members, actively contributed to the event, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable development, cultural dialogue, and youth empowerment under the Belt and Road framework.
