By Belunn Se, senior industry observer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China

Belt & Road Hall of ICIF Photo/Belunn Se

Echoing the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation which was held on May 14-15 in Beijing, in South China's Shenzhen, the 13th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industry Fair (ICIF) was hosted on May 11-15.

Belt & Road Hall of ICIF Photo/Belunn Se

This year, ICIF has attracted 2,302 exhibitors, including 117 overseas ones from 40 countries and regions.

Cultural Innovation & Exchange Facilitating Development

Culture + Technology of VR Tour @ICIF Photo/Belunn Se

The Chinese culture industry is taking 'Culture +' and 'Internet+' as the two driving momentum to promote in-depth integration of culture with technology, Internet, finance, commerce, tourism, sports and fashion industries.

Craft Hand Making from India @ICIF Photo/Belunn Se

Cultural exchanges and cultural trade are important bridges between China and the world. Since its establishment in 2004, the cumulative total turnover of all previous ICIF events has exceeded 1.5 trillion yuan (or some US$220 billion), with cumulative export turnover of over 130 billion yuan (or some US$19 billion).

In 2016, Shenzhen cultural and creative industries contributed 194.9 billion yuan (or a bit over US$28 billion) with an increase of 11%, accounting for 10% of Shenzhen’s GDP.

Visa Reciprocal Boosting 'Go abroad & Guests Welcoming'

As of February this year, nine countries have granted mutual visa-free access with China for ordinary passports; countries and territories that unilaterally allow Chinese citizen visa-free accesses stand at 16 now; countries and territories that unilaterally allow visa-granted-upon-arrival accesses have been up to 37.

Music Playing from Africa @ICIF Photo/Belunn Se

From 2013, China has gradually carried out the 72-hour visa waiver in 18 port cities for transit passengers from 51 countries who are heading to a third country (region) and booked onward tickets.

Since January 30, 2016, the 144-hour visa waiver policy for transit passengers has been introduced in provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and the municipality of Shanghai.

As of January 30 this year, at the Shanghai port only, nearly 39,000 foreign passengers have benefited from the 144-hour visa waiver temporary entry permit.

Win-win 'Culture + Tourism' Cooperation on Belt & Road

Chinese Traditional Weaving Presenting @ICIF Photo/Belunn Se

China has become the world's largest outbound tourism consumption country, the fourth largest tourist reception country, also has the world's largest domestic tourism market.

Meanwhile, countries along the Belt & Road have rich tourism resources, including nearly 500 world natural and cultural heritages; the international tourism industry en route the Belt & Road is estimated to account for around 70% of global tourism industry.

Signing in Tujia Language-Intangible Cultural Heritage @ICIF Photo/Belunn Se

China is expected to attract 85 million international tourists to visit the nation during the 13th Five-Year period. With the broad prospects of Belt & Road tourism development, the two-way tourism exchange scale between China and Belt & Road countries is likely to exceed 25 million people, which would stimulate domestic tourism consumption to about $US110 billion.