The 600 plus exhibitors this year come from a record number of 56 countries and regions, up almost 20%, from Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, the Pacific and Indian oceans, and the Middle East! Some 80% of the exhibitors are from outside Hong Kong and around half of the exhibiting countries from outside Asia! These testify the exceptionally strong international profile of ITE & MICE exhibitors!

A warm welcome to all ITE & MICE participants this year comes from Mr. Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government, who again sent a Message. Officiating the opening is Mr Philip Yung, JP, Commissioner for Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, and also present are senior tourism officials from abroad.

In its 25^th Anniversary, the Travel Expo this year will be held from June 9 to 12, with more exhibitors and a slightly bigger scale. It will occupy some 15,000 square meters in halls 1A to 1E of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, The first two days are for Trade only. Public are welcomed on June 11 and 12, and tickets available at the main entrance.

There are 10 new official participations / pavilions this year, respectively from Bhutan, Brazil, Cuba, Hungary, Mexico, Moscow, Nepal, Seychelles, Tunisia and South Africa. For the first time, the four European countries of Czech, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia will have a joint stand with substantial upgrade in scale. Taiwan will add a new official pavilion this year, bringing the total to 3 with each on different theme. Newly participating countries with only individual exhibitors include Andorra, Georgia, Mauritius, Maldives, and the Netherlands.

Among the repeating official pavilions, the larger ones from Asia include China (mainland), Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand etc., while those from beyond include Egypt, Greece, Turkey and Yemen. This year, Taiwan and Spain have proportionally substantial expansions.

Overall, ITE & MICE this year will have some 40 pavilions - official and themes on MICE, Cruise, Wellness & Medical Tourism, and the Hong Kong Travel Agents Zone. The travel expo indeed offers a World of Attractive / Deluxe Travel Products.

ITE & MICE combines leisure and MICE travel, have separate trade and public days. These rather unique arrangements offer our exhibitors to meet in one stop visitors from the travel trade, MICE and event industry, media, and FIT travelers from Hong Kong and beyond.

Trade associations of the exhibition & convention industry from Hong Kong (HKECIA) and Macau (MCEA), and outbound travel agent associations from India (TAFI), Singapore (NATAS) and Malaysia (MATTA) continue helping inviting trade visitors and buyers. ITE & MICE this year is expected to draw over 11000 buyers, trade and corporate visitors with over 20% from mainland China and abroad.

ITE & MICE is noted for its practical and timely seminars. For the travel trade on June 9 are seminars on “Medical Tourism”; “Asia Outbound Markets” and “Training Seminar by Asia Cruise Association”. On June 10 are seminars on MICE travel and event organizing, and prize presentation ceremonies by trade and professional organizations. Throughout the trade days are also press conferences, receptions, business meetings and product briefings by the exhibitors.

There are around 100 travel seminars during the two public days, with speakers including well known travel writers and travel program hosts. Also available are cultural performances, auctioning of travel products, special offers by some exhibitors, travel maps, and lucky draw with grand prizes of air ticket by Cathay / Dragonair which will also give out free its popular shopping bags. The travel expo is great for all travelers to source for ideas, information, and shopping of travel products especially at its Travel Agent Zone.

Continuous cooperation with public media in Guangdong and leading travel agents there help distributing public days tickets this year will likely increase the proportion of visitors from the Pearl River Delta. The two public days this year are expected to draw over 70,000 quality visitors in the public days. For further details about programs on its public days, please visit the website of www.travelexpo.com.

Travel trade, event industry, media and management from corporations responsible for MICE / corporate travel are welcomed to pre-registration for free admission during the trade days. For pre-registration and further details, please visit our trade websites of www.itehk.com and www.itehkmice.com, and public website of www.travelexpo.com.hk.

ITE & MICE is organized by TKS Exhibition Services Ltd., 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 Official Airlines, and MTR is Official Rail of ITE & MICE. For enquiry, please send email to travel@tkshk.com, or fax to 852 3520 1500.