Pohang City Expands Global Tourism Network and Broadens Battery Industry Reach

2026 PATA Annual General Meeting Opens, Pohang Emerges as a Global Tourism Hub

Participation in China’s CIBF 2026, Strengthening Status as a Global Battery Hub

Pohang City is enhancing its status as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination through collaboration with international tourism organizations, while simultaneously accelerating the establishment of a global hub for future new industries by targeting China, the world’s largest battery market.

On May 11, the "2026 PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Annual General Meeting" opened successfully at the Lahan Hotel in Pohang.

This event was organized to discuss the resilience and sustainability of the tourism industry, as well as the direction of future industries. More than 160 people, including global tourism industry officials, academic experts, and domestic and international youth participants, gathered for the occasion.

At the Youth Symposium, experts from global platforms such as Booking.com and AirAsia MOVE joined to engage in in-depth discussions on the role of the younger generation and sustainable tourism.

In addition, participants toured Pohang’s major attractions, including Space Walk and Homigot, directly experiencing the city’s tourism resources.

Through this annual general meeting, Pohang City aims to demonstrate its capacity to host international conferences and solidify its image as a global marine tourism city.

In addition, Pohang City will participate in "CIBF 2026," an international battery expo to be held in Shenzhen, China starting May 13, to promote the competitiveness of its secondary battery industry on the global stage.

At this expo, which will feature participation from more than 3,000 companies worldwide, the city will focus on promoting major national projects such as the National Advanced Strategic Industry Specialized Complex for secondary batteries and the Global Corporate Innovation Park.

In particular, ANPOLY, a promising local company, will accompany the city to showcase its environmentally friendly, plant-based, high-performance binder technology, aiming to secure a leading position in the next-generation battery materials market.

During the exhibition, Pohang City also plans to visit sites in China that are leading innovation in robotics and drone logistics to keep abreast of cutting-edge technology trends, and to incorporate these insights into strategies for fostering future new industries in the region.

Jang Sanggil, Acting Mayor of Pohang, stated that this event will be an important turning point that elevates Pohang’s international standing and supports local companies in expanding overseas. He added that the city will continue to expand its global network and develop Pohang into a world-class industrial and tourism city.