China to unveil Silk Road tour at Berlin world tourism fair

BERLIN - Chinese exhibitors will promote tours along the famed Silk Road during the 49th Berlin International Tourism Fair (ITB), starting Wednesday.

Tourism sectors and corporate exhibitors from 19 provincial-level regions in China will gather in Berlin between March 4 and 8 to showcase China's rich tourism industry, thanks to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) which organized the Chinese representation at the fair.

This year, China's stand at ITB, the world's leading travel trade fair, will not only present globe trotting enthusiasts and travel professionals with a mix of old and new, but also a glimpse of China's charm, according to the CNTA.

China's initiatives on building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, known as the Belt and Road Initiatives, were promoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

While the Silk Road Economic Belt is to be established along the ancient Silk Road trade route, stretching northwest from China' s coastal area through Central Asia, the Middle East and on to Europe, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road will run through the country's south to Southeast Asia.

According to the CNTA, the general goal of the Silk Road tour, led by national strategy of the Belt and Road Initiatives, is to create international boutique travel routes and tourism products characterized by Silk Road, to create the world's leading travel brands, and comprehensively promote the establishment of tourism cooperation mechanisms.

This year, ITB Berlin anticipates approximately 50,000 private visitors and more than 110,000 trade visitors.