According to Wuxi Culture and Tourism Development Group, taking part in the global tourism trade fair has resulted in several breakthroughs for the city in the overseas tourism market.
Back in 2010, Wuxi made a deal at the fair to become a stop on the German Grand Tourer Silk Road Tour, hosting a convoy of drivers from Germany to China.
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Ten European drivers are welcomed by local residents in Wuxi, the second last stop of their Grand Tourer Silk Road Tour on Oct 8, 2015. [Photo/wxrb.com] |
On Oct 9 2015, 10 European drivers in five sedans reached Wuxi after 42 days and passing through eight countries. The group toured the city's gardens, ate local delicacies, and tried on traditional clothes. One of the drivers, Pierre Jacques Michel, 68, from France, showed his appreciation for the city, saying that it was very beautiful.
In 2016, Wuxi struck a deal with German authorities to become a stop on the newly launched New Silk Road Bus Tour. The tour departed Hamburg, Germany on May 11 carrying 35 cultural envoys, arriving in Wuxi two months later on July 2. The envoys wandered through Huishan ancient town, tasted local specialties, sipped tea and took a boat to Turtle Head Isle.
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Cultural envoys visit Jichang Garden of Wuxi during their New Silk Road Bus Tour on July 2, 2016. [Photo/wxrb.com] |
According to a preliminary report by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), foreign travelers made more than 28 million trips into China in 2016, a year-on-year growth of 8.3 percent.
