The first Western China Ice and Snow Tourism Festival and the 7th Winter Tourism Expo, jointly organized by the People's Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, concluded successfully on December 2.
The first Western China Ice and Snow Tourism Festival and the 7th Winter Tourism Expo, jointly organized by the People's Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, concluded successfully on December 2. The event achieved contracted deals worth 4.76 billion yuan, with on-site transactions reaching 2.27 billion yuan, representing year-on-year increases of 20.1% and 45.7%, respectively.
According to reporters from Urumqi Evening News, during the exhibition period, the main and branch venues collectively received 267,000 domestic and international visitors, an increase of 34.8% year-on-year. The total contracted value reached 4.76 billion yuan, with on-site transactions amounting to 2.27 billion yuan, and a total of 1,156 exhibition booths were actually booked, up 38.9% year-on-year.
A number of major tourism projects were signed during the event. These include strategic cooperation agreements signed between the Autonomous Region Tourism Bureau and the China Railway Travel Alliance, CYTS Tours Holding Co., Ltd. (600138, stock code), and China International Travel Service Head Office Co., Ltd.; a tourism cooperation framework agreement between the Changji Prefecture Tourism Bureau and the Fujian Provincial Tourism Bureau; and a project cooperation agreement for the “Winter Tour in Turpan” signed between the Turpan Area Tourism Bureau and Xinjiang Damei Impression Tourism Culture Co., Ltd., among others, which expanded the scope and reach of marketing initiatives.
It is understood that this exhibition adhered to a “sales and exhibition combined” format, turning it into a “Winter Tourism Superstore” that offered substantial benefits to visitors. During the event, tourism enterprises launched special discount travel packages and employed various promotional methods such as lucky draws, free giveaways, contract signings, live performances, and information sessions, all of which stimulated local enthusiasm for winter travel. Entities such as Baiyun International Ski Resort, Silk Road International Resort, and Vist ski resort distributed free ski tickets and vouchers worth between 100,000 and 150,000 yuan to visiting citizens.
Star-rated hotels at the exhibition introduced group banquets, family banquets, and signature dish displays, offering the public a refreshing experience. They also ramped up sales of room vouchers, swimming cards, and fitness cards, while launching services such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinner bookings. Travel agencies promoted pre-sales for out-of-region, outbound, and domestic tours. Tourism bus companies, outdoor gear shops, and winter sports goods vendors also held a variety of activities. The rich array of tourism products not only provided the public with a fresh visual experience but also allowed visitors to enjoy the lifestyle changes brought about by the development of tourism.
For the first time, the Corps Tourism Bureau participated in the exhibition as a group, setting up a Corps Tourism Image Pavilion that comprehensively showcased Corps tourism products and launched military reclamation tourism culture and large-scale winter events. This marked the first major collaborative effort following the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between the Autonomous Region Tourism Bureau and the Corps Tourism Bureau.
In addition, exhibition zones for Hong Kong and Taiwan travel agents, self-drive tourism, and agritainment made their debut. Among the supporting provinces and cities, in addition to participants from Beijing, Guangdong, Shanxi, and Jiangxi, western regions including Gansu, Ningxia, Guizhou, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, and Shaanxi also made appearances. Major players such as CYTS, CTS Hong Kong, and China International Travel Service also participated in this event.
Yinalamu Naisierding, Director of the Autonomous Region Tourism Bureau, stated that this Ice and Snow Festival and Winter Tourism Expo were a resounding success, showcasing the characteristics of the most influential and brand-valuable large-scale professional exhibition in western China’s winter tourism sector.