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The Indispensable Travel Industry Read Feature Highlight Insights into the hotel industry for 2011 Vol. 6 | 23 November 2010 | www.travelweeklyweb.com | Published by Travel & Meetings Group, Ten Alps Communications Asia Pte Ltd News Slovakia a tourism haven in Europe Hotel CITM 2010 got off to a promising start (Left to right) Zhang Xilong, deputy director-general, Department of Marketing and International Cooperation, China National Tourism Administration, Dao Shuming, director, Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, Wang Yan, deputy director-general, Department of Marketing and International Cooperation, China National Tourism Administration: He Chikang, deputy director, Yunnan Pronvincial Tourism Administration. The highlight of this year's CITM is the 'Go China Summit' in Suzhou. The Go China Summit had buyers and sellers meeting in Suzhou on November 15-17. This marked a milestone for China's travel industry as one of the fas test growing industries, with great demand and prospects earning the name "An Everlasting Prosperous Industry" poised for continuous growth. The event was organized by China National Tourism Adminis- tration, China International Travel Mart and the Suzhou Tourism Board. ITM organized exhibitors from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East and South Asia. It involved 35 countries and 160 exhibitors and about 200 companies from China for this show. The parties were engaged in business discussions. This gave international tour companies the opportunity to meet suppliers throughout China in individual pre-scheduled meetings. Cl ient s wi l l be able to g ather information and plan tours focusing on unique aspects of China. About 99 million tourists travelled inbound. This compares with the 42 million Chinese travellers who ventured outbound in 2010. This is a 21 percent increase since 2009. CITM 2010 covered 57,500 sqm of space with 2,243 booths with the majority of booths from Asia. America also put up a united front occupying 12 percent of booths. California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC) led a high- level delegation to Guangzhou and Shanghai CITM. As an effort to drum up the promotion in the lucrative China ma rke t, San Fr anc i s co Convention and Visitation Bureau, Anaheim Convention and Visitation Bureau, Yosemite National Park, First St. Regis Resort debuts in China Page 6 Page 3 Yosemite National Park, California. Disneyland, SeaWorld, Holiday Inn, Chelsea Premium Out lets have joined CTTC to showcase the diverse Californian travel products to Chinese buyers. The delegates met and trained over 300 hundred travel trade professionals and media represent- atives. In the mission, the delegation announced California's campaign for the Chinese New Year latest Promotion. The delegation also launched California's f irst online training program "California Expert" in China which will train industry agents with the tourism resources in California. CTTC also promoted its leading-edge product called "California Travel Meals" through CITM. Next year's CITM 2011 will be held on October 27-30 to avoid the cold season in Kunming.