GUANGZHOU: Most cities in South China's Guangdong Province are busy in preparing for the third annual provincial travel and culture festival which will be held from November 23 to 29. It is hoped that the event will boost local tourism economy.

The director of Guangdong Tourism Department, Zheng Tongyang said the previous two festivals brought more than six billion tourists to Guangzhou, of which 1.5 million are overseas tourists.

Last year's festival statistics indicate that more than 1,000 overseas tourism investors visited Guangdong and some of them invested in the market.

In total, 127 foreign investment projects were signed worth US$1.8 billion in the tourism business promotion conference held during last year's festival.

Zheng said the event would not only improve and popularize its international image but it would also increase economic gain.

As usual, the opening ceremony will be held in Guangzhou, but the closing ceremony will be held in Foshan.

The main venue will be in Guangzhou. Eleven cities, including Shenzhen, Foshan, and Zhuhai, will be subsidiary venues.

The festival will embrace some tourism promotion events that are going to be held in other seven cities.

In Guangzhou, there will be a beer festival and a festooned vehicles parade.

Governments of Kyushu, Japan and New South Wales, Australia have confirmed that they will show their festooned vehicles in the parade.

During the festival, nearly 100 performers from all over the country who have unique skills will perform for the public in Guangzhou and Foshan. They will also strive for breaking Guinness Records.

In Shenzhen, the largest subsidiary venue, a collective wedding ceremony that has attracted 100 pairs of new couples will kick off on the National Day.

Shaoguan is a city that is famous for beautiful landscape and historic traces.

Zhuji Alley in Nanxiong County of Shaoguan is believed to be the root of all South China people.

During the festival, the alley will organize a big root-seeking event for all people who have South China origin.

Different cities have different events related to their local features.

Costal city Zhuhai will hold music party on the beach; the hometown of Kungfu, Foshan, will present kungfu culture carnival.

The whole province will immerse in a festival atmosphere, Zheng said.

(HK Edition 09/22/2007 page6)