The 2021 China (Guangdong) International Tourism Industry Expo (CITIE), held from September 10 to 12 in Guangzhou, has helped to revitalize the international cultural and tourist industry under the difficult circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
(Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
The three-day expo, with numerous events held for business communications and promotions, attracted exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions around the world and over 10 domestic provinces to participate in both online and offline formats.
Statistics shows that the subsidies and coupons provided by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province have boosted tourist spending by about RMB 50 million yuan. Residents were able to enjoy discounts when they bought designated products by online payment or swiping their UnionPay cards on site.
(Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
(Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
"The CITIE is an annual gathering of the cultural and tourism industries. Under the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic, the Expo is playing a positive role in pushing forward the revitalization of the tourism industry," said a staff member from Zhuhai Tourism Association.
The CITIE provided an industry resource linking platform for the exchange and cooperation between cultural and tourist industry and other industries. It helped the tourist enterprises break through the dilemma under the pandemic.
The integration between cultural and tourism industry as well as other inter-connected industries enabled exhibitors in the fields of animation, research study, countryside tours, sports as well as arts and crafts to share their products and services at the Expo.
One of them was the Guangdong Animation & Comic Industry Association. "The visitor volume on the first morning has been more than last year's three-day combined volume. We have negotiated with provincial cultural and tourism departments in detail to reach preliminary cooperation intentions," said Ao Gangmin, the secretary-general of the Association.
The expo also contributed to the digital transformation of cultural and tourist industry. With a series of digital technologies such as naked eye 3D, AR and VR, the Digital Culture and Tourism Area provided visitors with various activities in the fields of cultural exposition, intangible cultural heritage, performance and tourism.
(Photo provided to Newsgd.com）
Furthermore, CITIE has effectively promoted the balance between tourism supply and demand. Twenty industry exchange and promotion activities and four buyer-seller matching sessions were held, attracting professional buyer groups from travel agencies in and outside the province.
