Several of Xiamen’s sister cities, including Trier in Germany and Sunshine Coast in Australia, showcased their tourism resources at the China (Xiamen) International Leisure Tourism Expo 2016, hosted at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center in Xiamen, Fujian province from Sept 23 – 25.
President of the China Tourism Academy Dai Bin, president of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Rajeef Kohli, and deputy secretary-general of the World Tourism Cities Federation Yan Han visited the exhibition booths of Xiamen’s sister cities after attending the opening ceremony, accompanied by Huang Xinying, deputy director of Xiamen’s Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.
Director of the Xiamen FOCA Li Xiaoping and vice president of the Xiamen People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Kong Suting expressed gratitude towards the sister cities for showing support by taking part in the expo at a dinner party.
The officials also called for closer cooperation in tourism, culture and art by taking advantage of activities such as the expo and the travel photography exchange event for sister cities that was launched in July.
Huge crowds of local residents were lured to the diverse cultural exhibitions staged by the guest sister cities during the expo, from Australian country folk songs and ancient Roman style wrestling matches from Germany to traditional Japanese kimono garments.
Thirty one countries and regions were represented at the expo, which hosted 1,000 booths in an exhibition space of 30,000 square meters and attracted 1,000 professional buyers from home and abroad. Visitor-flow to the three-day event reached 110,000.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
