In order to promote tourism consumption, the first Suzhou International Tourism Exposition will be held during the 17th Suzhou International Tourism Festival from April 12 to 14 in the Suzhou International Expo Centre.

This year’s exhibition will focus on building a tourism hypermarket for local consumers as well as a big B2C (business to consumer) transaction platform. Covering an area of 17,999 square meters, the exhibition has arranged 600 pavilions in advance. The organizer, in cooperation with media and tourism associations, will invite tourism product purchasers from home and abroad, especially brand enterprises from the Yangtze River Delta area, professional tourism websites and BBS moderators, to make deals with travel lovers.

The exhibition has attracted foreign tourism enterprises from Malaysia, Spain and Canada, and a 100 domestic tourism companies. As for Suzhou, Gusu district, New District, Industrial Park District, Wuzhong district, Xiangcheng district, Wujiang district, Kunshan, Zhangjiagang, Changshu, Taicang and Suzhou Classical Gardens will all participate in the exhibition through special pavilions. About 30 famous travel agencies in Suzhou will also appear, including Suzhou Youth Travel Service and Suzhou International Travel Service. Two leading Chinese tourism websites, Ctrip.com and LY.com, will provide online booking and personalized service for customers.

The exhibition can be divided into three areas in terms of function: a Suzhou tourism products trading zone, a domestic and foreign tourism carnival, and a tourism products fair. There will be publicity and presentation activities for tourist destinations, new products promotion, overseas study programs, a characteristic tourism products display and trade fair, on-the-spot experience and registration for special tourism projects, and popularization of tourism laws and regulations.

Highlights of the exhibition:

• All-encompassing one-stop tourism products fair A wide range of quality products with discounts or on sale

• Personalized travel service centre Many services will be custom made to show their unique personalities. For instance, a series of Costa Cruise Line products will be provided.

• Online travel booking centre Several leading travel service providers will offer the latest and most convenient tourism products through online booking for consumers, especially youngsters.

• Romantic dating and honeymoon travel service centre Some specially-designed travel services for young couples are available.

• Overseas study service centre The exhibition will launch overseas study, training and investment investigating programs for people who intend to travel abroad. The host in cooperation with the customs association has invited 20 agencies.

• Suzhou traditional food feast Eight four-star or five-star hotels owned by the Suzhou Tourist Hotel Association will offer more than 50 types of Suzhou traditional snacks at a discount.

• Caravan camping and outdoor equipment The exhibition will promote a new fashionable and recreational lifestyle – travel by caravan, and display other related outdoor equipment. • Characteristic tourism products centre Local specialties and crafts from all over China will be on display.