On November 27th, the faculty of Tourism, Culture and Hospitality at the University of Angers hosted the “China, Sports, and Tourism” International Symposium, with many of our students studying in France in attendance.

During the academic roundtable held in the morning, YANG Wenyi, YUAN Li, and WU Yingqing, all 2020 graduates of our undergraduate Tourism Management program and now Master’s students specializing in Chinese Emerging Tourism Markets at the University of Angers, shared their insights on “The Role of Sports in Chinese Tourism Behavior.” Our French alumna, Marine L’Hostis, who came to study at Ningbo University’s Tourism Department as a doctoral exchange student in 2014, delivered a keynote speech titled “Observations and Prospects for Sports Tourism Behavior in China.”

The image shows our 2020 Tourism Management graduates YANG Wenyi and others presenting.

In the afternoon, ZHANG Haixuan, a 2019 graduate of our Tourism Management program, drew upon her study and work experiences to deliver a keynote report on “The Development of Elite Competitive Sailing vs. the Development of Water Sports” at the business roundtable. Using the Vendée Globe and the Round Hainan Regatta as examples, she compared the development trajectories and characteristics of water sports in China and France. ZHANG Haixuan is currently enrolled in the University of Angers’ doctoral preparatory program for Tourism Research Epistemology and Methodology. This presentation was part of her doctoral research project as she prepares for her upcoming PhD journey. Over the past three years, she has served in various roles, including Head of Public Relations for Marine Sports Events in Les Sables d’Olonne, Assistant Project Manager for the 2020 Vendée Globe Non-Stop Solo Around-the-World Yacht Race, and Project Manager for the 2021 Mini Transat Solo Transatlantic Yacht Race.

The image shows ZHANG Haixuan, a 2019 graduate of our Tourism Management program, delivering her keynote presentation.

In addition to the students actively participating in the symposium, other students and alumni from our school at the Les Sables d’Olonne campus of the University of Angers have been key contributors in organizing several academic conferences over the past few years. For example, in mid-to-late October 2021, under the guidance of Associate Professor Christophe Guibert, Director of the campus, WANG Yujie, a 2020 graduate of our Tourism Management program, along with her classmates from the Coastal Spaces and Societies Master’s program at the University of Angers, helped organize the second “Surfing and Culture” International Academic Symposium. The event was covered by media outlets such as Ouest France and Les Sables Vendée Journal.

The image shows a news report published by Les Sables Vendée Journal.

The University of Angers’ Faculty of Tourism, Culture and Hospitality offers a range of coastal and maritime cultural tourism-related undergraduate and master’s programs, including Coastal Heritage, Coastal Tourism and Water Sports, and Coastal Spaces and Societies, all based in the “European Sailing Capital” of Les Sables d’Olonne on the Atlantic coast. Supported by various levels of government in France, the Loire region, Vendée province, and major events like the Vendée Globe (one of the three major global round-the-world yacht races), these programs are highly distinctive within European comprehensive universities. Since their establishment in 2015, graduates from our Tourism Department have consistently enrolled in these programs, becoming an important presence at the campus. Some have been received by the former Prime Minister of France, some have been honored as “Ambassadors of Sino-French Tourism Exchange,” and others have been invited to participate in local government roundtable consultations. Their comprehensive qualities and professional capabilities have been highly recognized by various sectors in France, proudly showcasing the talents of Chinese students in the new era.