ITE MICE & ITE 2006
The 20th International Travel Expo
Hong Kong
Growths in Attendance and Scale
continued to mark another
Successful Year
Closed on June 18, ITE MICE & ITE, the International Travel Expo Hong Kong had 10% more buyers, corporate and trade visitors this year. Meanwhile, numbers of exhibitors and their co-exhibitors, official pavilions and participations, participating countries and regions, and the overall scale had all recorded double digits growth. Significantly, tourism ministers from several countries have attended its opening or visited the Expo, both enhancing and reflecting the growing prestige and recognition of the Expo by the international tourism industry. Officiating the opening ceremony were Mr. Stephen Ip, Secretary for Economic Development & Labour of the Hong Kong SAR Government, and Mr. Shao Qi Wei, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). Mr. Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR Government has sent a welcome message. Also present in the opening were Mr. Durano, Secretary of Philippine Department of Tourism; Princess Devi, Secretary of State of Cambodia; Mr. Strihalkovskiy, Head of the Federal Agency of Tourism of Russian Federations; Mr. Kodlubanski, Deputy Chairman of Polish Tourist Organization; Miss КС Au, Hong Kong Commissioner for Tourism; Mr. Philip Chen, Chief Executive of Cathay Airways and leading personalities from tourism authorities and trade associations from Asia and beyond. Mr. Misra, Secretary of Tourism of India's Ministry of Tourism & Culture, has paid a visit in the afternoon on the first day.
Briefly, ITE MICE & ITE this year were attended by 620 exhibitors and their co-exhibitors coming from 55 countries and regions; 45 official pavilions / participations with over half from outside Asia; 10500 corporate and trade visitors from the region including Mainland China; and 55000 visitors during the public days. The newly launched ITE MICE, which opened only for 3 days, was attended by 73 exhibitors, 7 official pavilions / participations, 2950 corporate and trade visitors, and 3850 visitors on its only public day. Media attendance this year -trade and mass, local and international, print and electronic had the biggest growth at 40% to over 500!
"Our Travel Expo has become an effective platform for the international tourism industry to cover the fast growing Asian markets for promoting businesses and contacts, and exchanging ideas and information. We welcome governmental agencies from different parts of the World to make use of our platform for meetings and other official functions", said KS Tong, Managing Director of TKS which organizes ITE & ITE MICE. In addition to individual visitors, trade associations in the region notably from Hong Kong (inbound), Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand helped either promoting or organizing delegations. Those from abroad and Mainland China will account for around 35% according to initial estimate. There was also a delegation by Chamber of Commerce of Guangzhou to attend ITE MICE.
Beijing Tourism Bureau has held the "Beijing Olympics Tourism Forum" in the Expo for the Game in 2008. There was a Business Matching for major trade show organizers and the travel trade. Celebrity Chef, Martin Yan, conducted a seminar on "Marketing & Promotion of Tourism through multimedia". Google and Yahoo spoke on "Search Engine Marketing for Travel Industry". The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers held a seminar on Corporate Travel Risks. With theme on investment including those for SME, the seminar on "Business Opportunities with China Travel Industry" remained highly popular. There were prize presentations, press conferences, presentations on destinations, routings and services for the travel trade, and seminars targeting specifically corporate visitors.
A program of Guangdong Satellite TV station broadcasted a series of 5 episodes on World travel incorporated materials from and interviews with ITE & ITE MICE exhibitors. This and other promotions brought more public visitors from Southern China. The next ITE will be held from June 14 to 17, 2007, while ITE MICE which covers business and incentive travels from June 14 to 16 at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The Travel Expo is supported by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), and Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC). Cathay, Dragonair and KCRC sponsor the hosted buyer program. For details, please visit www.itehk.com / www.itehkmice.com or contact the organizer by email at travel(5)tkshk.com