By Mikkel Larsen, iChongqing

Chongqing - The Western China Tourism Industry Expo (WTE) kicked off in Chongqing on June 21st at the Yuelai International Exhibition Center, open until Sunday, June 23rd. While the tourism expo focuses mainly on Chongqing city and the surrounding counties, you can also enjoy exhibition pavilions from some of China's western provinces and international pavilions as well.

The international exhibition area, in hall N8, while smaller than the surrounding counties and provinces' exhibitions, still provided plenty of valuable information to potential future tourists, with everything from visa and trip information to local food, delicacies, goods, and jewelry on display for visitors to try.

So which countries can you find at WTE 2019?

Australia has a prominent place at the exhibition with one of the largest of pavilions in the international display area. Simple in its design, it nevertheless attracts a wealth of attention and visitors due to their local products, and of course, a plush kangaroo near the start of the international area that proved to be especially popular with the younger crowd.

Italy and Spain also have larger exhibition areas and the design of their pavilions, the Italian pavilion, a bit more detailed, focused mainly on providing information for potential travelers to their countries.

However, there were also several smaller booths from as many as 42 countries and regions in total, with individual travel and visa information, and local food or goods. The United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Canada, Kenya, the USA, Morocco, Mexico, South Korea, Belarus, South Africa, Austria, New Zealand, Portugal, Brazil, Greece, and many others are present at the WTE2019 with individual pavilions.

The international pavilions were not all only representatives of their countries but also of companies in their respected countries. Many of them are travel agencies or tour organizers specializing in everything from organizing your stay to arranging African safaris.

The Czech Republic pavilion, organized by the China-Europe Cultural Exchange Association, proudly displays crystal glass weres, ornaments, and jewelry. Crystal glass is a specialty in the Czech Republic which through the Belt and Road Initiative has also seen a spike in popularity in China in recent years.

A Belgian pavilion shows off handmade Belgian chocolate with a twist. Among the common shapes and sizes, Choclito, based in Chengdu, also make mahjong tiles out of chocolate, especially popular there and likely to be a hit with the locals in Chongqing as well. They also showcased handmade chocolate in more exciting shapes and sizes, such as high-heeled shoes.

Many of the international pavilions have TV sets installed in their exhibitions to help showcase their tourist attractions to visitors, which could inspire your next trip around the world.

 

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