The 2018 China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exhibition is scheduled to be held from Oct 26 to 28 in Guilin, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, expecting a booming growth on regional tourism industry and further cooperation.

Themed on “Working Together to Build a China-ASEAN Tourism and Innovation Community,” the 2018 Expo is expected to receive over 800 enterprises and 300 buyers from more than 50 countries, and the number of visitors is estimated to reach 160,000, data estimates showed at a press conference on Sept 5 in Beijing.

Laos will act as this year’s guest country to host a series of Expo activities, including bilateral communication between China and Laos’ tourism authorities and enterprises, with the aim of promoting mutual trust on tourism cooperation.

ASEAN countries demonstrate a commercial vitality thanks to in-depth China-ASEAN cooperation since the 2000s. Also, ASEAN plays a significant role in China’s Marine Silk Road Strategy.

Guilin, as the host city, has successfully held the China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exhibition since 2015, indicating the prosperity of the local tourist industry and its emerging influence in the larger region. In 2017, Guilin received over 447,900 visitors from ASEAN countries, accounting for 24 percent of the total number of tourists, foreseeing a considerable growth over other regions.

“Guilin’s stunning natural landscapes and integrated cultural elements are the name card of the city. It is Guilin’s responsibility to reflect a beautiful China on the world stage,” Luo Jianzhang, the director of Guilin’s development and reform commission, told People’s Daily.

Moreover, the Guilin government has also joined hands with global hospitality service platform Airbnb to develop localized lodging models and services for visitors from all over the world.

In addition, 31 overseas cities with cultural and economic ties with Guangxi will be prioritized in the negotiations at the exhibition to maximize intercity cooperation opportunities, the press conference revealed.