Ningxia Launches International Wine Tourism Training, Aiming to Set New Global Standards in Helan Mountain Region

The OMET Academy Ningxia held its first training event at the Dulaan Wine City resort, located in the Helan Mountain wine region. The program, titled “Education and Training for the Integration of International Wine Tourism in Ningxia,” brought together local authorities, business leaders, and international experts to discuss how Ningxia can align with global standards in wine tourism.

The event opened with a ceremony attended by officials from the wine, culture, and tourism sectors. They emphasized the importance of building Ningxia as a global destination for wine tourism and cultural exchange. The training program included lectures, field studies, and seminars focused on integrating industry needs with educational development.

José Antonio Vidal, President of OMET & Academy and a professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, outlined international standards for recognizing wine tourism destinations. He stressed the need to move from knowledge-based learning to skills development, aiming to make training more practical for professionals in the region.

Song Haiyan, Vice Dean at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, presented on digital transformation in Ningxia’s wine tourism sector. He analyzed how digital tools can enhance visitor experiences and provided a framework for developing digital strategies in wine regions.

María Isabel Ramos, Director of OMET Mexico and researcher at Anáhuac University in Mexico City, discussed competitive strategies for building cultural identity in wine tourism. She highlighted key factors that help regions differentiate themselves in a crowded market. Zhang Hongmei from North Minzu University spoke about standardizing wine tourism services and designing effective training courses.

As part of the program, speakers visited several local wineries including Wofeng, Xiamu, Meihe, Hejinzun, Xige, and Xiban. They observed large-scale vineyards, modern production facilities, and branding efforts. The visits also included demonstrations of smart irrigation techniques and organic farming practices. Experts noted how these wineries design visitor experiences and expand their business models to include cultural tourism.

A roundtable discussion featured José Antonio Vidal; Gabriel Fidel, Director of OMET Academy Latin America and Vice Rector at National University of Cuyo in Mendoza; and María Isabel Ramos. Moderated by Jiawei Jiang, Director of OMET China, the panel shared OMET Academy’s global experience in developing talent training systems for wine-producing regions.

The event also included practical workshops where participants worked on topics such as innovative wine tourism routes, optimizing visitor experiences, and designing tourism courses. These sessions encouraged collaboration between academics, winery representatives, travel agencies, and hotel executives.

Organizers said the program aimed to empower participants through theory, practice, and innovation. By introducing international resources and aligning with local industry needs, they hope to establish a “Ningxia model” for integrating education with industry development in wine tourism.

Looking ahead, OMET Academy Ningxia plans to refine its talent training system and apply lessons learned from this event to further develop the region’s wine tourism sector. The goal is to position Helan Mountain’s wine region on the world stage as a symbol of ecological conservation and high-quality development along China’s Yellow River basin.