Hangzhou Tourism Commission opens entries for Global Tour 2015

The Hangzhou Tourism Commission (HTC) announces the official launch of a social media campaign called, Global Tour 2015, which will send one U.S. and one Chinese family, along with a media "Storyteller," on a free 30-day trip around the globe from July 24th through August 22nd.

The campaign was created to promote U.S. travel to a destination emerging on the global stage: Hangzhou, China, known for its beauty, perfect blend of traditional and modern Chinese experiences, and has become China's top launch pad for tech start-ups, including home of e-commerce giant, Alibaba.

In tandem with China National Tourism Administration's theme "Beautiful China 2015 – Year of Silk Road Tourism," HTC's Global Tour 2015 will support the winners to trace the ancient Silk Road beginning in Hangzhou and traveling through Dunhuang, China; Mykonos, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy; Geneva, Switzerland; Paris, France; Boston, Massachusetts (Hangzhou's U.S. "sister city"); and finally ending in New York City. Before commencing the tour, the winning families and the media Storyteller will spend several days learning the rich culture, history and lifestyle of Hangzhou, which is known as one of the happiest cities in China. The group will then travel west following the Silk Road, spreading the happiness and building lasting international friendships along the way. The Storyteller will accompany the family on the trip to chronicle the adventures via social media.

Families interested in entering for the Global Tour 2015 must visit http://globaltour2015.com and complete a questionnaire and submit a short video audition. Members of the media and social media influencers interested in winning the Storyteller position will need to complete a 200-word written submission, a second writing assignment selecting which of the landmarks on the Global Tour is the happiest, and are encouraged to post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Family submissions will be put to a public social media vote and then the winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

Campaign timeline
- Family and Storyteller Auditions: May 27 - June 11
- Winners Announced: June 18
- Tour Commencement: July 24 - August 22

"Through emphasizing the importance of travel and international relations, the Global Tour 2015 is a compelling, timely way to elevate the visibility of Hangzhou on the world stage," said Mr. Li Hong, director-general, Hangzhou Tourism Commission. "With global entities including Apple and Alibaba continuing to invest in our future, Hangzhou is beginning to be recognized for not only its historical glory, but also as a beacon of modern China."

Emerging as a top leisure and MICE travel destination in China, Hangzhou offers pristine natural beauty, well-preserved historical attractions, a vibrant culture and modern amenities for today's global traveler. Located in Eastern China only 50 minutes by high-speed train from Shanghai, Hangzhou is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country. The city is home to UNESCO World Heritage sites, West Lake and the Great Canal, as well as Linyin Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in all of China and a popular spot for locals and travelers alike to make good wishes. Hangzhou is also a budding tech hub, home to the global headquarters of e-commerce giant, Alibaba, as well as the new West Lake Apple Store, arguably the largest Apple store in Asia, which opened in January 2015.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia