The China Visitors Summit (CVS) has set a new milestone - hosting the largest gathering of Chinese travel agents and tour operators ever produced outside of China.
From August 28–29 in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, 156 Chinese buyers - including travel agencies, tour operators, wholesalers, luxury agencies, MICE managers, corporate travel planners, OTAs, and more - joined the record-breaking summit. Commissioned by the Al Ain Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), the summit welcomed top-tier travel industry buyers from Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. With over 300 delegates in total, the CVS provided an unprecedented opportunity for leading tourism suppliers from across Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE to engage directly with the Chinese travel trade. These buyers met directly with 76 travel suppliers from the UAE, generating over 3,000 face-to-face meetings in just two days. Beyond the workshops, buyers explored Abu Dhabi through immersive Discovery Days — with site inspections at 16 hotels, 8 cultural sites, 4 museums, 3 restaurants, and unique attractions. They leave not just with business opportunities, but as new ambassadors for Abu Dhabi in China. Since 2008, the CVS has been the world’s leading B2B platform for Chinese travel trade engagement, supporting hotel groups, destinations, attractions, shopping malls, DMCs, and more. The event's importance is underscored by its list of sponsors and partners, including Marriott International, Miral – Yas Island, TeamLab Phenomena, and Louvre Abu Dhabi, alongside a roster of luxury hotels. This high-level support highlights the strategic importance of the Chinese market for Abu Dhabi's tourism sector. Alexander Glos, CEO of the China i2i Group, emphasised the event's core mission, stating: "The China Visitors Summit is more than a business event — it’s where relationships are built, partnerships are formed, and destinations open their doors to one of the world’s most important travel markets. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain provide the perfect stage for connecting Chinese travel buyers with the region’s best hospitality and tourism offerings." This edition of the CVS was the 39th since its inception in 2017, with events also scheduled for Baku, Azerbaijan and Barcelona, Spain later this year.