On May 19, 2023, the 13th China Tourism Day, the 31st Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF) kicked off at the Area C of China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou. The three-day event sees the participation of tourism bureaus, airlines, hotels, scenic spots, travel agencies and so on from 55 countries and regions, offering the latest tourist information and discount activities for the public.
The Fair encompasses three exhibition halls with themes "local travel agency, theme tourism& tourist attractions", "inbound tourism & travel destination", and "digitalization, outbound tourism & MICE". There is an array of themed exhibition zones at the event, featuring B&B experience spaces, a joint exhibition of Guangzhou's museums, intangible cultural heritage, creative cultural and tourism experience in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), tea culture, sports tourism carnival, and digital tourism.
International exhibitors account for 68% this year, including exhibitors from Cuba, Poland, Germany, Spain, the UK, the US, Canada, and Peru, among which Saudi Arabia is the new participating country this year. As Sri Lanka is the guest country of honour at this year's GIFT, around 20 travel agencies from the country attended the event and introduced their tourism resources to the visitors.
Discount activities for residents
A series of tourism products of travel agencies at the GITF attracted numerous residents. For instance, GZL International Travel Service Ltd. (GZL) is launching over 1,000 special travel routes, with discounts up to RMB 3,000 and other preferential activities like buy one get one free, second half price, and lucky draws. According to GZL, the hot on-sale and pre-sale products cover outbound tours, cross-province tours, tours around Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao and the like.
