The Terra-cotta Warriors are the signature attraction in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province.[Photo by Zhang Yanlin/Asianewsphoto]

Tourism expo

The China Xi'an Silk Road International Tourism Expo 2014, the first one of the theme around the nation, will be held in the Xi'an Qujiang International Conference and Exhibition Center from Sept 19 to 21.

The expo, which is organized by the Shaanxi tourism bureau, aims to provide a one-stop networking platform for domestic and international tourism industry players, an organizing official said.

About 500 exhibitors from 30 countries as well as 25 provinces and regions in China are expected to attend the expo, which will occupy a total floor space of 20,000 square meters, he added.

The exhibitors and visitors come from various industries, but most of them are tourism-related, such as airlines, hotels, art and heritage centers, car services, restaurants, travel agencies, credit card providers, as well as travel and tourism media outlets.

The expo will not only provide people with an opportunity to meet quality buyers and partners, it will also be a great occasion for visitors to "explore the opportunities in northwest China's tourism market," the official added.

This year's expo is expected to connect tourism markets between China and other regions in Asia and Europe, and bring the tourism industry along the ancient trade route to a new level, he said.

The highlights of the event include meetings among buyers and sellers, industry forums, and on-site performances.

The buyer recruitment team of the expo's organizing committee has established a database to conduct research on the potential buyers and help them pair with the exhibitors.

In addition, the organizer has also invited officials from the National Tourism Administration, experts and industry insiders from home and abroad to hold a presentation on the Silk Road's future development.

Exhibitors are expected to showcase their travel packages, products and local culture through performances and theme activities during the event.

According to local experts, building the Silk Road tourism belt faces a lot of challenges, such as transportation, local infrastructure and visa issues. To address these issues, countries along the Silk Road are expected to strengthen their cooperation.

Experts said different provinces and regions in northwest China are also expected to cooperate with each other in areas such as designing tourism routes and products, and tourism promotion.