The 2017 China International Travel Mart (CITM), held with the theme “Amazing Yunnan, Sharing Its Best with the World,” was held in Kunming from November 17 to 19. The event’s official slogan declares “Yunnan has only one scenic area, which is Yunnan.”

This year’s CITM attracted 527 travel agencies from 71 countries and regions inlcuding Russia, the United States and Europe. Distinguished guests from Denmark, Benin, Hungary and Gambia participated in the expo for the first time, and tourism officials from ten ASEAN states also attended.

Highlights from the CITM included the closing ceremony of China-ASEAN year of tourism cooperation, which was held during the CITM for the first time. Other notable events were held, including the first meeting of Lancang-Mekong Tourist Cities Cooperation Alliance and “Shangri-La Night” featuring an ethnic minority fashion show.

Additionally, this year’s exhibitors were of very high quality. The International Mountain Tourism Alliance, the World Tourism Cities Federation and other world-famous organizations participated in the CITM for the first time. So to did all of the Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities involved in the Grand Shangri-La Tourism Promotion Alliance. Each of these entities organized high-quality displays for the event. The exhibitors expanded from the industry of tourism to include agriculture, education, manufacturing, cultural and creative industries, Internet businesses and health.

 This year, the Yunnan zone covered four pavilions, one for  integrated tourism, another for medical tourism, a third for Sports, with the last reserved for various tourism products. In total these covered an exhibition area of 17,200 square metres. By Chu Donghua