"I never realized Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were such heroic figures! I didn't know much about Three Kingdoms culture before, but after today's guided tour, I found it absolutely fascinating." said Carolina, product manager at Spanish travel agency ICARION, excitedly sharing her impressions in front of the Liu Bei Hall at Chengdu's Wuhou Shrine Museum on the afternoon of June 15. She added that if Three Kingdoms culture, natural scenery, and culinary experiences could be integrated into a cohesive itinerary, Spanish tourists would surely find the trip rich and multi-layered.

Spanish travel agents tour Wuhou Shrine

That day, with support from the China National Tourism Office in Madrid, a delegation of Spanish travel trade representatives organized jointly by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and Sichuan Airlines commenced an eight-day familiarization tour of Sichuan. The group of ten Spanish travel professionals began their journey at the Wuhou Shrine, immersing themselves in the allure of Three Kingdoms heritage.

Although it was her first encounter with Three Kingdoms culture, Carolina paid close attention throughout, frequently asking questions through the interpreter and capturing details on her phone. She noted that while Spanish tourists traditionally favored destinations like Beijing and Shanghai, the new visa-free, direct flights from Madrid to Chengdu—eliminating the need for layovers and simplifying entry procedures—have significantly boosted interest in visiting Sichuan.

Spanish travel agents tour Wuhou Shrine

David Damian, product manager at Destinos Asiáticos, expressed high expectations for both the Wuhou Shrine and the upcoming visit to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. He remarked that the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is already well known in Spain and requires little additional promotion, "but the Wuhou Shrine and Dujiangyan are equally worth recommending—they boast beautiful surroundings and a profound cultural atmosphere, which I believe will appeal to Spanish travelers."

David Damian stressed that Sichuan's tourism promotion should avoid "favoring one aspect over another". "You can't just admire the scenery and experience the culture without enjoying the food." he joked, adding that Sichuan cuisine, giant pandas, natural landscapes, and ancient Shu civilization should all be promoted as an integrated package because "they hold equal appeal".

Regarding future plans, David Damian revealed that if everything proceeds smoothly, his company intends to organize three to four tour groups to Sichuan next year, covering Chengdu, Dujiangyan, Jiuzhaigou, and Sanxingdui, with culinary experiences woven into the itinerary to create in-depth travel products.

As they strolled along the iconic red-walled corridor of the Wuhou Shrine, the travel professionals snapped photos and paused for discussions. For them, Sichuan's charm was transforming from something "heard about" into something "visible and tangible".

After leaving the Wuhou Shrine, the delegation visited Taikoo Li and Chunxi Road to experience firsthand the convenience of foreign card payments, mobile payment accessibility, multilingual signage, and the "instant refund" policy for duty-free shopping upon departure. They unanimously praised Sichuan for creating a seamless consumption and travel environment for international visitors.

In the coming days, the group will continue their immersive eight-day tour, visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Dujiangyan, Jiuzhaigou, and the Sanxingdui Museum.

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】