Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) joins China International Travel Mart 2013 in Kunming, Yunnan Province together with Macau industry partners for an occasion not only to strengthen the connections with their Mainland and international counterparts but also to highlight Macau events and the walking tour routes themed as "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" through promotion. China International Travel Mart (CITM) 2013 is held in Kunming International Convention & Exhibition Center from 24 – 27 October as a four-day event. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes takes part in CITM this year along with travel industry delegates from 12 corporations including hotels and travel agencies. During the fair, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Shao Qiwei visited MGTO's booth which occupies a floor area of 100 square meters under the theme "Touching Moments, Experience Macau". The Office takes the opportunity to promote Macau event highlights including the upcoming 60th Macau Grand Prix and the first four walking tour routes under the project "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" in order to attract visitors to Macau for a firsthand experience of the city's unique cultural cocktail of East and West. MGTO also distributes promotional leaflets to local citizens, while Macau industry delegates discuss business opportunities with their local and international counterparts. Ahead of CITM, CNTA Vice Chairman Du Jiang hosted a banquet for Hong Kong and Macau representatives including MGTO Director Senna Fernandes, the Commissioner for Tourism of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Philip Yung, as well as travel industry leaders from both destinations. A meeting was held among the above officials and industry delegates to exchange the latest tourism trends and ideas regarding tourism development and opportunities for enhanced cooperation. China International Travel Mart 2013 is jointly organized by CNTA, the People's Government of Yunnan Province and the Civil Aviation Administration of China as one of the largest professional travel marts in Asia. CITM serves as an important travel-fair platform for Macau tourism sector to sell and promote their tourism products to Mainland and global industry partners. As an annual event, CITM has been held in Shanghai and Kunming alternately since 2001. Covering a total exhibition floor of around 50,000 square meters, CITM 2013 features 2,359 booths in total managed by exhibitors from 102 countries and regions according to information provided.
