ITB ASIA has returned quickly to strong growth with floor space sales up markedly compared to same time last year and more than 30 per cent of exhibitors set to be new participants at the show which is in its third year.
Guangdong Tourism Authority, Bhutan Department of Tourism and the Moscow Exhibition and Convention Agency are among those that will exhibit their destinations for the first time at ITB Asia, which takes place from October 20 to 22 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre.
From the private sector, the Chilean carrier LAN Airlines and the Small Luxury Hotels of the World will be making their debut, along with travel companies from Kenya, Uzbekistan and Armenia.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has more than doubled its floor space and the Czech Tourist Authority, Sentosa Leisure Group, Frasers Hospitality, Fairmont Raffles Swissotel, Furama Hotels International Management, the Nepal Tourism Board and the German Tourism Board (DZT) have all booked larger floor space this year.
“ITB Asia is unique compared to other travel shows because we present such a diversity of global travel products to Asian buyers,” says Nino Gruettke, Executive Director of ITB Asia. “There’s no other show in Asia where travel buyers convene so easily to find out about the new products and travel experiences available in wonderfully diverse destinations such as Chile, Armenia, Kenya and Uzbekistan. These are just the tip of the iceberg.”
Buyers at ITB Asia 2010 will also find meet many exhibitors who attended in 2008 but missed last year’s show. Bali Village, Eastin Hotel Petaling Jaya, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts - Asia, Sol Melia Hotels and Resorts, First House Samui Hotel and Resort, the Turkish Embassy Tourism and Information Office, Vietnam Pathfinder Travel, Grande Centre Point Hotel and Residence (Thailand), Putrajaya Marriott Hotel & Spa (Malaysia) and Samode Hotels (India) are all returning this year.
Gruettke added: “ITB Asia is on track to attract about 650 exhibiting organisations this year. We expect around 21,000 buyer-seller meetings.”
ITB Asia and the Web In Travel technology, marketing and distribution conference which takes place simultaneously in partnership with ITB Asia, have attracted more than 90 speakers who will deliver upwards of 2,280 minutes of analysis and insights on new travel industry trends.
Speakers at Web In Travel include investor Morten Lund, who has co-founded and invested in more than 50 high-tech start-ups including Skype and online stockbroker Zecco, Adrian Hamilton-Manns, CEO of Mandala Airlines in Indonesia, Cui Guang Fu, CEO, Elong, China, Gerry Samuels, CEO, Mobile Travel Technologies, UK, Hrush Bhatt, founder and director of Cleartrip/Small World in India, Marc Charron, managing director of TripAdvisor APAC, Singapore and William Bao Bean, partner, Softbank China & India Holdings, China.