Bolivia and Kyrgyzstan have hailed the ongoing China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) as a high-level platform that helps to promote their tourism services and products to the Chinese tourists.
Themed "Global Services, Shared Prosperity", the CIFTIS, which opened at the China National Convention Center and Shougang Park in Beijing on Thursday and will run till Monday, has attracted attendees from 85 countries and international organizations, as well as over 450 Fortune 500 enterprises and companies taking the lead in their respective industries.
The comprehensive exhibition at the China National Convention Center showcases the country's latest achievements and trend in the service sector, while the themed exhibition in Shougang Park presents specialized services in sectors such as finance, culture, tourism, and education.
While attending the CIFTIS, Hugo Jose Siles Nunez del Prado, ambassador of Bolivia to China, said that the high-level event helps to promote the South American country's tourism services and products to the Chinese tourists.
"It is the first time that Bolivia has ever attended the CIFTIS. The CIFTIS has impressed us with its high level. It offers Bolivia an opportunity to present our tourism services and products. So I am very happy that Bolivia can participate in this year's CIFTIS. By being a part of the CIFTIS, we hope to establish closer ties with China in trade in services, and we hope China can promote better technologies to Bolivia and even to the world," he said.
Kapalova, a travel agent from Kyrgyzstan, said as more and more Chinese come to visit the central Asian country, she hopes this year's CIFTIS will help further increase the tourism flow.
"It is our first time to come to Beijing and take part in the CIFTIS. We are a travel company from Kyrgyzstan. More and more Chinese are now coming to visit Kyrgyzstan, and we would like to attract more visitors to our country," she said.
CIFTIS helps to promote tourism of Bolivia, Kyrgyzstan
China's Mid-Autumn Festival travel market remained stable this year, with tourists favoring local and short-distance trips blending travel with festive reunions and rich cultural experience, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture, is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar and dates back for more than a millennium. As a festival in honor of the moon and harvest, families reunite on the occasion to admire the bright full moon, light lanterns and share the holiday pastry of mooncakes.
Local getaways and short trips were particularly popular during the holiday, with Chinese-style night tours which allow tourists to enjoy the full moon with their families, emerging as a major trend.
These night excursions, featuring moonlit boat cruises, bonfire parties, performances showcasing intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and outdoor concerts, provided visitors with a rich and immersive cultural experience while also becoming a key highlight for promoting local culture and stimulating holiday consumption.
Data from online travel platforms showed a 77 percent surge in searches related to night tours of ancient towns and gardens, while searches for night boat cruises increased by 42 percent.
"ICH performances boast deep cultural significance and unique artistic appeal, while concerts create an immersive experience that emotionally resonates with visitors. The growing trend of tourists dressing in traditional costumes for scenic photoshoots has also taken off, allowing them to express their individuality in creative ways," said Wang Jinwei, a professor at the School of Tourism Sciences of the Beijing International Studies University.
Following the summer vacation's longer and more demanding trips, and ahead of the week-long National Day holiday from Oct 1 to Oct 7, most people used the shorter Mid-Autumn Festival break for time with family and recharge.
The three-hour high-speed rail networks, where travelers can move between cities within three hours — such as the network connecting east China's Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, and Shanghai, or those linking Guangzhou City and Shenzhen City in south China, Chengdu City and Chongqing Municipality in southwest China — saw particularly frequent movement.
Self-driving trips, or combining high-speed rail with car rentals, remained popular among travelers moving between cities within a province or across neighboring provinces.
"As travel expectations rise, more tourists are seeking relaxed and comfortable travel options, as seen during this Mid-Autumn Festival," Wang added.
Local, short-distance, cultural vibes tours lead China’s Mid-Autumn Holiday travel
