HAIKOU, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China's southernmost island province of Hainan has seen the rapid development of its conference and exhibition industry in recent years.

In 2017, Hainan held nearly 18,000 conferences, attracting a total of 19.5 million overnight attendees, and industry revenue reached 14.5 billion yuan (about 2.2 billion U.S. dollars), according to figures released at the 9th China International Conference Industry Week concluded last Thursday.

The average annual revenue growth of the industry hit 12 percent over the past three years, it showed.

Hainan is working to build itself into an international conference and exhibition center. In 2015, the conference and exhibition industry became one of 12 pillar industries in Hainan.

By 2020, the industry on the tropical province is expected to attract 30 million overnight attendees and rake in 40 billion yuan of revenue, according to a government plan on the industry.