#China #Shanghai #Huawei #Petal Ads #ITB China 2026

Petal Ads at ITB China 2026: A New Era for Culture and Tourism Marketing

In a significant move for the culture and tourism sectors, Petal Ads, the marketing platform from Huawei, took center stage at the ITB China 2026, held from May 26 to May 28 in Shanghai. The event attracted over 900 institutions and companies from more than 85 countries, marking a pivotal moment for industry networking and innovation.

Petal Ads made a remarkable impact by presenting its all-encompassing marketing solutions tailored for 2026. The company's presence highlighted its suite of applications such as Celia, HUAWEI Browser, HUAWEI SkyTone, Petal Maps, and HUAWEI Music. The focal point of their exhibition was an immersive zone of smart cultural and tourism experiences, designed to showcase how the HarmonyOS ecosystem can transform marketing strategies.

The integration of marketing that emphasizes "content as service" has become the guiding principle for Petal Ads, serving as a foundation for all products and services within the HarmonyOS ecosystem aimed at the cultural and tourism sectors. This innovative approach seeks to redefine user engagement and experience on a larger scale.

Insights into the Market: Shifting Trends in Travel

According to the Annual Report on the Development of Chinese Outbound Tourism for 2025-2026 published by the China Tourism Academy, the outbound tourism market in China has evolved from a phase of recovery-driven growth to one of structural transformation. With a remarkable 168 million international trips logged in 2025, it is noteworthy that over 60% of travelers relied on AI for itinerary planning. Despite this growth, the culture and tourism industry is currently facing three major challenges:
1. User Engagement: The top tier of user traffic is increasingly monopolized by various platforms, complicating brand efforts to forge direct and meaningful relationships with consumers.
2. Interaction Gaps: There is a noticeable lack of continuous leadership and interaction at critical touchpoints within the user journey, hindering the overall impact of promotional efforts.
3. Underdeveloped Services: The industry struggles with providing intelligent services and personalized experiences, which are essential to cater to the increasingly diverse needs of travelers.

Elevating the Travel Experience Through Technology

In response to these challenges, Petal Ads showcased a fully realized cultural and tourism experience zone. This area vividly illustrated how HarmonyOS technologies could enhance travel experiences, mapping the entire user journey from inspiration through to sharing experiences. Unique solutions emerged that promise to make travel smoother and more engaging, addressing real-time traveler needs with integrated media across multiple scenarios.

One of the highlights was the launch of the Petal Ads 2026 Playbook, which presents a structured guide to intelligent marketing strategies in culture and tourism. This comprehensive guide is based on insights garnered from over 440 million HarmonyOS users and outlines five typical traveler personas:

• - Cultural Explorers: Gen Z individuals seeking authentic experiences.
• - Business Elite: Efficiency-focused professionals needing quick and productive travel solutions.
• - Quality Family Travelers: Families satisfying high standards during their trips.
• - Luxury Vacationers: Those in pursuit of indulgent getaway experiences.
• - Health-Conscious Seniors: Older adults traveling for wellness and health benefits.

Creating Lasting Relationships in the Tourism Ecosystem

The ecosystem's flywheel effect emphasizes that greater user satisfaction leads to prolonged engagement—more users attract more brands to collaborate, and an enriched service offering enhances the overall experience. As of May 2026, Petal Ads is collaborating with over 100 global cultural and tourism institutions, air carriers, and hotel chains to provide a comprehensive service to Huawei's ecosystem users.

Additionally, the HarmonyOS ecosystem boasts over 80,000 applications and services that encompass the entire travel process—from navigation and translation services to transportation logistics. In terms of content, Petal Ads is actively leveraging initiatives such as the HUAWEI Image Competition and collaborations in film tourism to foster breakthroughs in culture and tourism.

For those interested, the Petal Ads 2026 Playbook for intelligent marketing in culture and tourism can now be downloaded from here. For further inquiries, contact [email protected].