The 2019 China (Guangdong) International Tourism Industry Expo (CITIE), one of China’s most influential tourism expos, was held at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou between August 30th and September 1st.

People pose for a group photo at the expo.

Covering an exhibition area of 50,000 square meters, the expo saw over 20,000 professional buyers and more than 500,000 visitors from over 20 provinces in China as well as more than 50 foreign countries and regions.

A total of 462 tourist projects were signed off on at the expo, including 275 worth over 100 million RMB, 122 worth over 1 billion RMB, and 23 worth over 10 billion RMB.

Visitors view special offers at the expo.

At the Tourism Hypermarket Hall, 20 travel agencies provided over 100 million RMB worth of discounts during a pre-sale of 2020 tourist products. Exhibitors from more than 30 China time-honored brands brought various iconic products and services to the expo, such as GPHL’s Wanglaoji herbal tea and Ci Ning Ji mixed juice.

Shaoguan, a city from northern Guangdong, attended the expo as a Tourism Destination Partner and showcased its resources through demonstrations, performances, experience activities and marketing events.

China's largest online travel agency Ctrip has brought not only routine tourism products but also thousands of new package tours including its best-sellers for the upcoming winter and 2020. Ctrip also places emphasis on inbound tourism by having launched an online platform Trip.com offering 12 languages and all kinds of tourism services.

A Ctrip staff member talks to the visitors at the expo.

The expo drew attendees from destinations not only from across China but also worldwide. It was the first time for exhibitors from Serbia, the Republic of Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Venezuela, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Fiji to attend the expo.

Malaysia, the guest country of honor, brought 29 enterprises to participate in the expo to promote the ‘Visit Malaysia 2020’ campaign and the ‘Malaysia-China Cultural Tourism Year 2020’.

Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture in Malaysia, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the expo.

Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture in Malaysia, said that China is the third biggest tourism-generating market for Malaysia and the most important source of tourists outside ASEAN. With an expected increased influx due to the Visit Malaysia Year 2020 campaign, Malaysia is doing its best to provide convenience for Chinese visitors. The country will grant visa-on-arrival at six more entry points for Chinese tourists and relax general entry requirements to facilitate easy access for tourists from China such as lowering the mandatory amount of money held by tourists upon entry from $1,000 to $500.

Performers take the stage at the expo.

Alvaro Garcia Gutierrez, Consul General of the Republic of Ecuador in Guangzhou, told the reporter that the CITIE is a very important platform for Ecuador to promote its country to Chinese tourists, and according to the mutual visa exemption agreement signed by the two countries, Chinese tourists are able to stay in Ecuador for up to 90 days a year without a visa. Gutierrez said Ecuador is a destination with beautiful mountains, islands, beaches and jungles, and he warmly welcomes Chinese people to visit Ecuador.

The CITIE 2020 will be held in Guangzhou next September.