ITB Asia kicks off with record 35pc rise in international exhibitors

ITB Asia, Asia’s leading travel trade show, has opened in Singapore with over 1,838 international exhibitors, a record 35% increase in new exhibitors, 38% increase in MICE, and more 200% growth in travel technology. 

 

At the iconic Marina Bay Sands Co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, the event promises three full days of networking opportunities with international exhibitors, complemented by insightful conference sessions. Guest of Honour Alvin Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore, opened the show together with Melissa Ow, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board and David Ruetz, Senior Vice President, Messe Berlin, did the honour of inaugurating the show.

 

“I am delighted about the noticeable rise in the number of international exhibitors. The ITB global brand family is making a strong case in 2023 as the travel industry resurges. Coming back to the live format in 2022, ITB Asia has established itself as a trendsetter for the entire branch. As the world keeps changing at an unprecedented pace, we expect it to become the cradle for the industry’s cutting-edge trends, the cultivating space of free idea exchange and sustainable cooperations,” said Ruetz.

 

Focus on destinations

This year’s ITB Asia exhibition boasts an impressive selection of over 80 National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs). Headlined by the exhibition sponsors, including Busan Tourism Organization, Japan National Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Startup Centre, Penang Global Tourism, Sentosa Development Corporation, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and Visit Finland, the show will foster hundreds of cooperations between destinations, buyers, and service providers.

 

ITB Asia Conference – thousands of insightful minutes

Adopting the theme “Accelerating Growth: Paving the Way for New Opportunities in Travel & Tourism”, the ITB Asia Conference will become a hotspot for new ideas and networking. Over 160 speakers will deliver 4,000 minutes of speeches in over 100 sessions spanning 3 days. The attendees will discuss topics critical to the future of MICE, corporate travel, leisure travel, and travel technology.

 

Hermione Joye, Sector Lead, Travel and Vertical Search APAC, Google, and James Liang, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, Trip.com Group will deliver the opening keynotes of the conference. The Knowledge Theatre conference track runs in parallel with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia.

 

The Startup Arena within the Travel Tech Asia Hall will offer an exciting opportunity for startup exhibitors to showcase their innovations to the expert audience.--TradeArabia News Service