Wilhelm Brauner, chairman of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and Macau, gives an exclusive interview to China Daily on June 26, 2023. (LESLEY LIU / CHINA DAILY)

Wilhelm Brauner, chairman of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and Macau, says he has identified wide areas for cooperation between Austria and China, including the tourism, hospitality and education sectors.

The tourism business – a pillar of Austria’s economy – is particularly promising, with the country’s rich natural and cultural attractions, he told China Daily in an interview.

According to Brauner, some Austrian attractions have adopted various strategies to cope with the problem, citing Hallstatt -- a renowned picturesque lakeside village in Austria that has been drawing an overwhelming number of tourists

Brauner is among a high-profiled delegation about 70 members of the foreign diplomatic corps and business chambers in Hong Kong on a week-long tour of Henan and Shaanxi provinces in central and northwestern China.

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The delegation, led by Liu Guangyuan, head of the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is exploring business opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative -- a global collaboration initiative proposed by China a decade ago.

The tour, which began on June 24, entered its fifth day on Wednesday. Members of the team have so far visited a host of iconic historical attractions, such as Shaolin Temple in Henan’s provincial capital, Zhengzhou, and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang City.

Brauner says he has found many similarities between Austria and Henan, including breathtaking natural scenery, and cultural and historic attractions that could provide opportunities for fruitful cooperation.

Austria, located in Central Europe, lies in the eastern Alps, with the Danube River flowing through the country. The landlocked nation is also famous for its achievements in painting, music and various types of arts.

Brauner says Austria has been cooperating with the Chinese mainland in promoting winter tourism, which has become more popular among Chinese people, especially after the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.

The Austrian business chief, however, also points out it’s important to restrict the number of the visitors at tourist sites, saying overtourism is a problem faced by both Austria and China. "If a tourist attraction becomes too popular and overwhelming, it’s not so great for people living there.”

According to Brauner, some Austrian attractions have adopted various strategies to cope with the problem, citing Hallstatt -- a renowned picturesque lakeside village in Austria that has been drawing an overwhelming number of tourists.

As a small town with about 800 residents, Hallstatt, on certain occasions, had to cope with more than 10,000 visitors a day, reports said.

To control the number of tourists, the town has enforced various control measures, such as registering visitors and limiting the number of coaches allowed there during peak seasons.

Brauner says he noticed that some of the attractions the delegation had been to in Henan in the past few days are using computer systems to manage crowd control. He hopes tourism experts in both countries can do more to deal with overtourism, adding that cross-boundary cooperation can spark more creative ideas in developing the tourism industry.

In his view, Hong Kong can also be an important platform for boosting cooperation in the hospitality industry between Austria and China, as hospitality education facilities in Austria and the SAR hold regular exchange programs. “Hong Kong can play a vital role in bringing international quality services to the Chinese mainland’s tourism business.”

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Besides the tourism and hospitality industries, the delegation’s tour of the mainland has also presented collaboration opportunities between Austria and China in other areas, such as green energy and railway construction, says Brauner. The Austrian business chamber’s aim is to spread the message to more Austrian enterprises.

China and Austria signed a joint declaration in 2018 to support enterprises of both countries in deepening collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Brauner believes the BRI offers directions for various countries and regions to strengthen cooperation, but joint efforts and constant communication are needed to achieve that goal.