As a highlight of the four-day 17th China Huangshan International Tourism Festival and Hui Culture Festival, the second Anhui International Travel Agents Conference caught the eye of national and international industry members.

The conference kicked off in the city of Huangshan, Anhui province, on November 17. Jointly organized by the people's government of Anhui province, the Anhui Tourism Bureau and Huangshan municipal people's government, it attracted about 300 travel agent representatives from 11 countries worldwide and 500 delegates nationwide.

Themed “Unforgettable Anhui, Beautiful Huangshan,” the conference aims to promote tourism products in Huangshan and Anhui as well as enhance international communication and cooperation.

Hua Jianhui, Anhui provincial deputy governor; Zhang Wuyang, vice-general secretary of the Anhui provincial government; Liu Xiaomei, vice-director of the China National Tourism Administration Office; Hu Xuefan, director of the Anhui Tourism Bureau; Ren Zefeng, mayor of Huangshan; and Zhou Tianwei, vice-mayor, attended the conference.

Hua briefed attendees on tourism industry development in Anhui. She said that Anhui’s tourism industry has grown rapidly in recent years. In the first three quarters of this year, Anhui received 2.64 million overseas tourists, a year-on-year increase of 12 percent, and 230 million national tourists, up 14.1 percent compared with the same time last year. Total tourism revenue reached 191 billion yuan ($31.3 billion), a 14.3 percent increase from last year. Noticeably, the establishment of the South Anhui International Tourism and Culture Demonstration Zone greatly expanded the tourism market and provided a platform for cooperation.

Hu Xuefan, director of the Anhui Tourism Bureau, presented the abundant resources and advantages of tourism in Anhui from 10 aspects, including landscape, celebrity, history, folk, science and education, religion, cuisine, architecture, arts and recreation. In his speech, he also highlighted four premium travel routes in Anhui.

Zhou Tianwei, vice-mayor of Huangshan city, promoted winter tourism products in Huangshan to delegates.

Later on, 17 major travel agents from nine cities in Anhui province signed 17 agreements on tourism cooperation with their overseas counterparts. After the conference, delegates from overseas travel agents were invited to visit the South Anhui International Tourism and Culture Demonstration Zone.

The second Anhui International Travel Agents Conference attracted about 300 travel agent representatives from 11 countries worldwide and 500 delegates nationwide.

Hua Jianhui, Anhui provincial deputy governor delivers a speech.

Zhang Wuyang, vice-general secretary of the Anhui provincial government attends the conference.

Hu Xuefan, director of the Anhui Tourism Bureau, presents the abundant resources and advantages of tourism in Anhui.

The conference is chaired by Zhang Xueping, vice-director of the Anhui Tourism Bureau.

Zhou Tianwei, vice-mayor of Huangshan city, promotes winter tourism products in Huangshan to delegates.

A travel agent representative from Russia delivers a speech.

17 major travel agents from nine cities in Anhui province sign 17 agreements on tourism cooperation with their overseas counterparts.

By Huang Pei

Edited by Michael Thai