The Shandong provincial department of culture and tourism was officially inaugurated on Oct 31. Wang Lei serves as Party secretary and director of the culture and tourism department.

The department is the result of a merger of the Ministry of Culture and National Tourism Administration.

According to a State Council document, the change was designed to better coordinate development of the two sectors and increase the influence of Chinese culture as a whole.

The new department will make rules, organize surveys, protect cultural resources and regulate the tourism market, as well as enhance cultural exchanges with foreign countries, the document said.

The Shandong provincial department of culture and tourism is officially inaugurated on Oct 31. [Photo/sdwht.gov.cn]

Officials attending the inauguration of the new department pose for a group photo. [Photo/sdwht.gov.cn]