Chengdu International Tourism Expo 2018 (CITE 2018)- the leading travel show in Chengdu for professionals in the tourism industry, strides into its 6thyear by welcoming its inaugural partner, the European Tourism Association (ETOA) as one of the main exhibitors. Participating in CITE 2018 is part of ETOA’s initiatives during EU-China Tourism Year to increase the number of Chinese tourists visiting Europe.
One of the highlights of the exhibition will be the launch of “The Lure of Romantic Europe for Chinese Visitors” by ETOA to woo China’s booming outbound tourism marketing. In less than two decades, China has taken the lead to become the world’s most powerful outbound market with a staggering 122 million per annum! To further cement the importance of attracting Chinese tourists to Europe’s tourism sector, ETOA has brought along its huge contingent of global tourism suppliers to form strategic partnerships with China’s travel agencies to offer enchanting romantic experiences for the Chinese travellers.
Enthusiastic trade visitors can look forward to a choke-full of engaging activities spread over 3 days. Held over 29 November till 1 December at the Century City New International Convention & Exhibition Center in Chengdu, boasting a gross area of 8,000 square metres, CITE 2018 will feature some 500 local and international exhibitors from over 30 countries.
In addition, the event is expected to draw some 400 local buyers and is projected to attract 3,000 trade and public visitors from the MICE, OTAs, travel agents, corporates and trade associations. CITE 2018 will also host a business networking luncheon for both the exhibitors and the buyers. This new initiative of the show will include luncheons on the first two days of the event. The first two days of CITE 2018 would be for trade only (pre-scheduled B2B meetings), whilst the third day would be open to the public which allows exhibitors to reach out directly to the consumers to promote their destinations and products. One of the main benefits for all exhibitors would be the opportunity to meet with at least 20 – 30 qualified Chinese travel operators on a face-to-face basis as well as meeting with some 200 hosted buyers over two networking luncheons.
The European Spas Association (ESPA) will also be launching a seminar, “Why should Chinese travellers go to European Spas?” on Day 2, 30 November, to focus on restoring peace to the psyche by opting for romantic and health-curing travel destinations in Europe.
Key topics for the seminar are as follows:
- “Why European SPAs?
An overview of a unique, romantic and health-curing travel destination” presented by Csilla Mezosi, Secretary General of ESPA
- SPA Heritage in Europe
- How to pitch European SPAs to Chinese consumers
CITE 2018 is jointly organised by Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd (Singapore) and CEMS (Beijing) Conference & Exhibition Co., Ltd (China) and supported by Chengdu Municipal of Exposition, Chengdu Municipal Tourism Administration and Tourism Development Commission of Sichuan Province, China.
