At the start of 2026, central and local governments rolled out a series of cultural tourism support policies to accelerate the integration of "cultural tourism+" across multiple sectors, empower digital transformation, enhance inbound travel quality, and leverage regional resources. Domestic cultural tourism consumption continues to recover as the industry enters a new phase of high-quality integrated development. Market trends now center on business model innovation, corporate differentiation, state-owned enterprise-led financing, and technology-driven light and shadow experiences.Guangzhou ICLIGHTS (IKLIGHTS)Anchored in the full industrial chain of cultural tourism and lighting, relying onWaterproof Rotating Beam Light, Corrugated Wall Washer Light, Tree Wrap Light, DMX512 Intelligent Lighting Control System, AR Holographic Projection Equipment, Low-Temperature Snow and Ice Specialized LightingCore products are deeply tailored to emerging scenarios such as night-time economies, immersive performances, sports and cultural tourism, and rural tourism, delivering integrated hardware-software lighting solutions to drive industry upgrades.
1. Policy Support Fuels Consumption Recovery; Nighttime Light Shows Become Standard for Cultural Tourism
Top-level policies in 2026 clarified the core direction of expanding domestic demand and fostering integration in culture and tourism, supporting the development of event-based economies, rural cultural tourism, AI-driven tourism, and inbound travel. They encourage regions to create immersive, high-quality tourism formats. Hunan, Xi'an, Henan, and other areas have implemented targeted measures, focusing on night tours, performances, digital cultural heritage, and distinctive districts, driving a shift from sightseeing-only experiences to all-day engagement.
Consumer data confirms a robust industry recovery: in 2025, the number of domestic trips and total tourism spending surpassed 2019 levels. During the 2026 Spring Festival, tourism revenue exceeded 8000 billion yuan. The trillion-yuan ice and snow economy, sports IP economy, and film-and-television-driven cultural tourism continue to gain momentum. As a key growth driver, the nighttime economy has become critical for cities to activate foot traffic and extend consumption chains, while also driving sustained demand for cultural tourism lighting equipment. Guangzhou艾克莱斯IP66-rated outdoor lighting, low-power illumination equipment, and intelligent light-and-shadow control systemsAdaptable to diverse scenarios such as rural lighting, ancient city night tours, ice and snow light shows, and urban landmark illumination. With its durability, intelligence, and ease of maintenance, it has become the preferred solution for lightweight upgrades in cultural tourism across multiple regions.
2. Deep Integration of "Culture + Tourism" Formats, Empowering Scene Upgrades with Light and Shadow Technology
The industry has fully moved beyond single-purpose sightseeing. Integrated models combining attractions, sports, wellness, technology, and film are now dominant. Local cultural tourism groups are accelerating resource integration and cross-sector partnerships, with immersive experiences and IP-driven scenarios becoming core project differentiators.
In the realm of sports and cultural tourism, domestic grassroots event IPs continue to break through. This has led to a surge in demand for supporting nighttime performances and venue lighting solutions from IKLIGHTS.Four-Eye Spectator Light、spotlight、Outdoor Color-Changing Moving Head LightWidely adaptable for outdoor event stages, meeting both daytime competition and nighttime light show requirements. In the film and tourism sector, popular TV dramas have boosted visitor numbers to filming locations; regions are leveraging these IP assets to create themed night tours and immersive light-based photo spots throughAR Holographic Projector、Dynamic Pattern Imaging LightRecreate cinematic scenes to convert film traffic into real-world spending.
Rural cultural tourism and wellness tourism continue to improve, with the industry focusing on "lightweight" and "boutique" upgrades: Aiclaes.Tree Hugger Lamp、Corrugated Wall Washer、In-ground lightEasy to install with lower power consumption, perfectly suited for illuminating rural historic architecture, pastoral landscapes, and wellness hot springs. It helps revitalize idle resources in rural cultural tourism and create distinctive nightscapes. Meanwhile, major cultural tourism complexes and resorts focus on immersive experiences, leveraging our company's...Lighting TechnicianDMX512 Intelligent Lighting Control SystemEnable synchronized lighting and one-touch scene switching to significantly enhance visitor experience.
3. Industry Divergence Intensifies; Asset-Light Light & Shadow Sector Demonstrates Resilience
In 2025, performance among listed cultural tourism companies diverged significantly. Leading platforms like Ctrip and Tongcheng leveraged their resource advantages to sustain profitable growth, while traditional asset-heavy cultural tourism groups and the duty-free sector faced notable pressure, with some companies experiencing widening losses. Regional cultural tourism firms showed stark polarization: scenic spots with comprehensive night tours and immersive experiences maintained stable profits, whereas projects with single business formats and weak supporting infrastructure continued to struggle.
Compared to heavy-asset cultural tourism projects, light shows and intelligent performance systems represent a low-investment, high-return, light-asset segment with strong resilience against economic cycles. This makes them a key breakthrough for transforming traditional scenic areas. Many existing sites are now upgrading their lighting by replacing aging equipment with smart, energy-efficient systems. Guangzhou Aikles focuses on R&D and manufacturing of cultural tourism lighting, offering end-to-end services including fixture supply, lighting design, and system commissioning. We support new construction and renovation projects across scenic areas, helping traditional cultural tourism destinations reduce costs, improve efficiency, and boost visitor traffic.
4. SOE Financing Gains Momentum, Hotel REITs Break Through to Unlock New Growth Potential for Lighting and Shadow Infrastructure
Currently, cultural tourism financing relies primarily on public bonds issued by local state-owned enterprises, with capital directed toward scenic area upgrades, urban lighting projects, and hotel infrastructure. Meanwhile, hotel-focused cultural tourism REITs are accelerating: projects from Jinjiang, Huazhu, and Guangzhou Haizhou Langham have been accepted for review, marking a key breakthrough in the securitization of cultural tourism assets.
Hotel assets feature stable cash flow and clear ownership, making them premium cultural tourism investments. Immersive banquet halls, outdoor courtyard lighting, and commercial street night tours have become standard offerings for upscale hotels, directly driving demand for professional stage lighting and outdoor illumination equipment. Aikles has launched a targeted solution.Professional lighting for hotel banquet halls、Garden Lighting Kit、Smart Dimming SystemDesigned to meet the ongoing operational and asset valuation upgrade needs of five-star and convention hotels, aligning with the trend toward standardized, high-quality cultural tourism assets.
5. Deep Tech Empowerment: Intelligent Lighting Drives Industry Evolution
Cutting-edge technologies like AI, AR, and the low-altitude economy are transforming tourism and culture. The industry is shifting from efficiency-driven support to content co-creation, with digital revitalization, immersive experiences, and smart guides setting new trends. Cultural sites and intangible heritage venues are leveraging digital lighting and projection for dynamic cultural preservation, while new formats such as low-altitude tourism and AI-powered narrative tours continue to emerge.
Guangzhou Aiklesis full product line supports intelligent system integration, seamlessly connecting with AI-driven cultural tourism large models, AR devices, and drone-based low-altitude light-and-shadow scenarios through programmableLED pixel display、HD Projector、Smart Control SystemCreate an immersive light-and-shadow experience integrating land, air, and space to support the digital revitalization of cultural heritage and the implementation of new tourism formats.
Conclusion
Overall, the cultural tourism industry in 2026 will continue to develop across four key areas: integration, technology, nighttime consumption, and lightweight upgrades. As a core hardware enabler for scene innovation, lighting and projection technology offers significant market growth potential. In the future,Guangzhou ICLIGHTS (IKLIGHTS)We will continuously iterate our smart cultural tourism lighting products and integrated solutions, focusing on core sectors such as night-time economy, event performances, tech-driven cultural tourism, and hotel amenities. By leveraging lighting technology, we empower the high-quality, diversified integration and development of the cultural tourism industry.
