The 2005 Guangzhou International tourism trade fair is scheduled to be held March 4 to 6 in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, said the staff with the organizing committee Friday.

One of the most important international trade fairs in the Asia-Pacific region, the Guangzhou trade fair, at the co-sponsorship of the Guangdong provincial tourism bureau and Guangzhou municipal tourism bureau, has been held annually since 1993.

Ma Xiangcheng, deputy director of Guangzhou tourism bureau said that more than 200 organizations from 24 countries and regions, including Germany, France, Russia and Egypt, have decided to participate the fair. Five hundred domestic enterprises will also participate.

He noted that a online tourism trade fair will debut at the event, which is expected to attract 80,000 browsers.

The trade fair floor space will reach 20,000 square meters with600 booths, 150 of them reserved for overseas participants.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2005)