Travel expo keeps on growing
This year's ITE & MICE 2011 - Hong Kong's only travel expo - is set to be bigger and more international than ever, as it hosts more than 600 exhibitors from a record number of 56 countries and regions, up by almost 20 per cent and about half are from outside Asia.
Exhibitors hail from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the Middle East. About 80 per cent of exhibitors are from outside Hong Kong.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has graciously provided a welcoming message to all participants, and officiating in today's opening is Commissioner for Tourism Philip Yung Wai-hung. Tourism officials from overseas are expected to be present at today's grand opening. The expo runs until Sunday.
This is the travel expo's 25th anniversary and its exhibitors are offering a world of attractive and deluxe travel products.
The expo is also taking up more space, to occupy about 15,000 square metres in halls 1A to 1E of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The first two days are for trade only, with free admission to those who apply online. The public is welcome on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at the main entrance.
There are a record-breaking 10 new official participations and pavilions this year coming from Bhutan, Brazil, Cuba, Hungary, Mexico, Moscow, Nepal, Seychelles, Tunisia and South Africa. Newly participating countries with only individual exhibitors include Mauritius, Maldives and the Netherlands.
For the first time, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia will have a joint stand with a substantial upgrade in scale.
Among the repeat official pavilions, the larger ones from Asia include the mainland, Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand. Those from beyond include Egypt, Greece, Turkey and Yemen. Taiwan has three official pavilions this year and Spain will have a substantial expansion.
Overall, there are about 40 pavilions - the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE), and main official themes include, cruise, wellness and medical tourism, and the Hong Kong Travel Agents' Zone.
ITE & MICE is known for its practical seminars. For the travel trade, seminars on medical tourism, Asia outbound markets and a training seminar by the Asia Cruise Association will take place today. Tomorrow, there will be seminars on MICE travel and organising events. There will also be prize presentation ceremonies by trade and professional organisations tomorrow. There will be press conferences, receptions, business meetings and product briefings by exhibitors.
ITE & MICE is expected to draw in excess of 11,000 buyers, trade and corporate visitors with more than 20 per cent coming from the mainland and abroad. Trade associations of exhibitions and conventions from Hong Kong and Macau, and outbound travel agent associations from India, Singapore and Malaysia continue to help inviting trade visitors and buyers.
During the days open to the public, about 100 travel seminars will be run and speakers will include travel writers and travel programme hosts. There will be cultural performances, auctioning of travel products, special offers, travel maps and a lucky draw with prizes including air tickets from Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair.
ITE & Mice is organised by TKS Exhibition Services and supported by China National Tourism Administration, Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Macau Government Tourist Office and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong. Cathay and Dragonair are the official airlines, and MTR is the official rail carrier.
