GENEVA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The 24th Geneva Book and Press Fair opened here on Wednesday with an expectation of 100,000 visitors.
The fair will run at Geneva's Palexpo from April 28 to May 2.
Swiss Federal Councilor Didier Burkhalter inaugurated the fair on Wednesday with opening remarks about his love for reading. Men dressed in ceremonial costumes escorted him out of the building.
In addition to bookstores selling books in both English and French, the event will feature debates, readings, photographic exhibitions and local organizations. Sweden, this year's guest of honor, will exhibit the works of famous Swedish authors such as Stieg Larsson.
Noticeably absent from the book fair was the presence of e-book readers, such as the Amazon Kindle, though Apple's new iPad won't be released in Europe until the end of May. Commenting on their absence, the book fair's founder, Pierre-Marcel Favre, told the Tribune de Geneve, " the subject isn't taboo."
The first Geneva Book and Press fair was held in 1987.
