New international presence at CIS Travel Market 2003

Now in it's eleventh year, the organisers of CIS Travel Market, St Petersburg Express and Reed Travel Exhibitions, have announced that there will be a number of new international exhibitors participating at the event this year, due to take place 2- 5 October 2003 at the LenExpo Exhibition Centre, St Petersburg, Russia.

Whether returning to the show from previous years or attending the event for the first time, CIS Travel Market (formerly Inwetex), can report new exhibitors from South Africa, Vietnam, Mexico, Malta, Spain who have confirmed 50m², and two separate regions of Italy, largely increasing Italian presence. In addition the show has recorded stand increases from the Government of Dubai, Greece, and Poland who have doubled their space to 60m². There are also a number of private sector exhibiting companies including tour operators, hotels and car rental companies.

Local presence will include stands from the Tourism Department, Ministry for Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation exhibitors, the Committee for Tourism and Development of Resorts of St Petersburg Administration and the Russian Union for the Travel Industry.

Held in St Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia which this year celebrates its 300th birthday this year, CIS Travel Market is firmly established as the business to business event to promote inbound and outbound travel for the CIS countries, the Baltic States, Scandinavia, the Russian Federation and Northern Europe.

Matt Thompson, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions comments: 'As the demand for travel and tourism within this region continues to grow, more and more international tourism boards and private sector companies are recognising the potential profitability of the Russian market. In 2002 over 3 million people travelled from the North West Region of Russia alone. This was a 13.6% increase on the previous year'.

Last year 380 companies from 28 countries exhibited. A number of companies at CIS Travel Market 2003 will be present in an official capacity including Dubai, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Greece, India, Malta, Poland, Spain and Turkey.

Marco Meloro, Intertrade, Italy who exhibited at CIS 2002 comments, 'An important side to exhibiting is taking advantage of the networking opportunities available. You have all the regions' travel trade under one roof therefore it is easier to see the people you really want to see. If you are interested in the Russian market, the best thing you can do is exhibit'.