Record Numbers for ITE 2005

This years International Travel Expo (ITE), opened on June 9 by Mr. Stephen Ip, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour of the Hong Kong SAR Government, recorded record numbers.

The first two trade days drew 9500 buyers and trade visitors, up 13.1% over 2004, which is on top of the 20% growth seen in 2004 over 2003.

Local and international media at the ITE this year totaled over 340 representing a growth of over 150%. Of the 340 media 100 were from outside Hong Kong. Of all overseas media, arrivals from the Mainland were slightly higher than 50%.

The number of visitors during the two public days totaled 56000, which is slightly higher than in 2004 despite a 100% price increase to HK$20 each. The small yet large in percentage numbers price increase is part of the ITE's strategy to enhance the quality of visitors, a move that has been welcomed by exhibitors, who reported better business this year.

The ITE 2005 grew in scale by around 40% and occupied around 13000sqm. It featured 550 international exhibitors and co-exhibitors from some 50 countries and territories. The number of official pavilions / participations by tourism boards, excluding those provincial and municipal ones in the China Pavilion, increased by 25% to a total of 40. Roughly 40% of the pavilions came from Asia, 26% from Europe, 20% from the Americas and Oceania, and 14% from Africa and the Middle East. 

“We are pleased with the overall improvements and these have also been confirmed by verbal comments from our exhibitors. There has been a general recognition that ITE this year has made great overall improvements”, said KS Tong, Managing Director of TKS, organizer of ITE. 

“An absolute majority of our exhibitors, new and old, have indicated to us their plan to join the next ITE, and a number of them have indicated intention to expand their scales of participation to accommodate either more co-exhibitors or greater cultural elements and displays in their stands.” added Tong.

The next ITE will be held from June 15 to 18, 2006 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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