TKS, organizer of the 23^rd International Travel Expo Hong Kong ( ITE) and the concurrent 4^th MICE, Business & Incentive Travel Expo (ITE MICE), is honored to welcome Japan to be Partnerland Asia of our travel expo this year, which has been officially designated the year of Japan Hong Kong Tourism Exchange Year (TEY 2009).

 Japan, an important international destination, is particularly popular in Hong Kong . In fact, outbound last year from Hong Kong to Japan grew by 27.3% to around five hundred and fifty thousands, making the city Japan's fifth major source of market.

 The Japan pavilion, on the strong foundation that it has already been the second largest in our travel expo in recent years, will again expand by some forty percent in this year. With even more exhibitors and interesting offers, the Japan pavilion will thus serve as a good source of travel information and contacts for all our visitors, trade and public included, for furthering their business and/or exchanges with the Japan travel trade. In this year of TEY, the pavilions of Japan and Hong Kong will be located next to each other.

 With around 700 exhibitors and many official pavilions from Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, some 13000 trade and corporate visitors with 35% from outside Hong Kong and 57000 public visitors, ITE and the concurrent ITE MICE has become a leading international travel trade fair in Asia. Our travel expo will again grow by double digit this year, highlighting the growing trend of its popularity and recognition by the international travel trade.

 "Year 2009 is a special year to both Japan and Hong Kong .  As to commemorate TEY 2009, we are glad to participate in ITE 2009 as a part of Partnerland Asia for the first time.  We are also glad to have our Japan pavilion arranged next to the Hong Kong pavilion , giving us a better opportunity to promote "TEY 2009" to the visitors.  As a part of the Visit Japan Campaign (VJC) which aims at increasing the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan to 10 million by 2010, participating in ITE2009 is one of the important events to us.   Taking this special opportunity of promoting Japan tourism to the Hong Kong people directly at ITE2009, we look forward to seeing more and more Hong Kong people visiting Japan." said Mr. Kazunari Taguchi, Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

 "This is the first year that we ever have Partnerland in our travel expo! With Japan as our Partnerland Asia will, no doubt, enhance attractiveness of ITE & ITE MICE and be welcomed by our visitors. When more participation details are known, we will promote extensively the interesting offers at the Japan pavilion", said KS Tong, Managing Director of TKS.

 ITE & ITE MICE are organized by TKS Exhibition Services Ltd., and supported by the China National Tourism Administration, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Travel Industry Council, the Macau Government Tourist Office and other organizations.

 We are honored that Mr. Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government has again sent his message to welcome all participant of the travel expo this year, and Ms. Rita Lau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government will officiate the opening on June 11.

 ITE this year will be held from June 11 to 14 while the concurrent ITE MICE from June 11 to 13 at halls 1A to 1E of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center .