TAIPEI, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- A colorful exhibition zone blending trendy toys with tourism drew crowds of visitors at a Taiwan travel expo that opened on Friday in Taipei, offering a fresh take on travel in the Chinese mainland.
The themed zone was jointly presented by the Taipei Office of the mainland-based Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits (ATETS) and Pop Mart, creator of the trendy toy Labubu, bringing together pop culture, travel and interactive experiences.
"My whole family, from kids to elders, loves Labubu," said a Taipei resident, as he photographed a fluffy pink backpack at the booth. "It's summer vacation, and I'm planning a trip to Beijing with my child."
"We have worked with Pop Mart at the expo for three consecutive years," said a staff member with the Taipei office of the ATETS. "By combining tourism with such trendy toy IPs, we hope to tap into the influence of popular IPs and use a younger, more accessible approach to present new and immersive ways of traveling."
This year's exhibition features a wider selection of products and a greater variety of characters, the staff member said.
At the site, staff members also introduced practical travel apps and offered tips on itinerary planning for trips to the mainland.
Wu Ying-liang, chairman of the Travel Agent Association in Taiwan, said the number of young people from Taiwan traveling to the mainland has increased noticeably in recent years.
Partly, he said, such trendy toys and IPs have helped give mainland tourism a more fashionable and fun image, while improved infrastructure and the growing popularity of attractions and night markets have also boosted its appeal among young people.
Running from Friday to Monday, this edition of the expo focuses on seasonal tourism offerings for autumn and winter, promoting travel products through presentations, family activities and food tasting. ■
