China to promote travel to countries along Silk Road belt in 2015

China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) on 16 November 2014 announced that it will promote travel by Chinese tourists to countries along the Silk Road belt in 2015.  

The decision was announced by the Deputy Director of CNTA at the China International Travel Mart 2014 (CITM).

The decision was made in the backdrop of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives. These two initiatives were proposed by President Xi Jinping to boost regional economic and infrastructure cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchange in Asia.

This plan can also benefit India as annually it gets just over one lakh Chinese visitors. At present India is conducting campaigns to attract more Chinese visitors as their numbers has risen sharply in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

About China International Travel Mart 2014 (CITM)
The CITM is the Asia's largest professional travel mart. It took place in Shanghai from 14 November to 16 November 2014 with exhibitors from 106 nations and regions invited in 2014.

Background
China proposed to promote the Silk Roads including ancient Silk Road that connects China to Europe through Central Asia. The proposal comprises of three corridors.

First corridor is BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) Corridor. Second corridor is the Pakistan-China corridor through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and the third corridor is the Maritime Silk Road to connect it with a host of ports in India and South Asia. The new initiative is seen as a strategic hedge against the US Pivot to Asia.