DRMumbai: A driving force behind the Chinese travel industry, exhibitors and visitors can look forward to three highly intense business days at the second edition of ITB China, with interesting opportunities to explore the latest trends in Chinese travel. The event attracts more than 700 exhibitors, among which, 27 per cent offers MICE and corporate products, 60 per cent leisure and 13 per cent travel technology solutions.
Over one-third (37 per cent) of the exhibitors will be from Europe, and another third (33 per cent) from Asia, including China. The Americas (15 per cent) and the Middle East (15 per cent) are also strongly represented.
Being the largest exhibitor, the European Commission will have a strong presence on the show floor presenting, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia along with other European countries such as Greece, Turkey, Malta, Portugal and partner destination Finland in the European area.
The growth potential of countries from the Middle East (ME) and the Americas is also well-reflected at ITB China. The UAE, Israel, Iran, Egypt and the Middle East are also strongly represented. A total of 31 new exhibitors from the ME will present their services and products. Emirates such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have even expanded their booth space this year. For the first time, Etihad Airways will display its products at the event.
According to David Axiotis, General Manager, ITB China: “Rising interest in China on both American continents is evident from the fact that a lot of countries are making a second appearance as well as new countries attending ITB China such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Los Angeles, Mexico, Panama and Peru. Visitors interested in the booming field of online travel and travel technology will also find a much developed eTravel World China segment. Well-known companies such as Ctrip, Meituan Travel, Tencent, Expedia Affiliate Network, Hotelbeds, WebBeds, Mafengwo, Tujia.com, Qyer, Shiji Network, On the Way, Yundijie iGola and Hunan Mengtu are only some of the confirmed exhibitors.”
A total of 2700 attendees are expected to take part in lectures, keynote speeches and discussions at the conference, to be delivered by more than 120 industry speakers. More than 10,000 appointments between buyers and sellers have already been pre-scheduled.
This year, ITB China is organising five speed dating events with some 300 participants each enabling buyers to establish valuable links with exhibitors in the shortest possible time. ITB China offers a multitude of networking events and opportunities for making new valuable industry contacts during ‘ITB China Cruise Night 2.0’ powered by Ctrip, the ‘Party Like a Finn Night’ powered by Visit Finland, and the ‘Aftershow Sundowner’ powered by Maritim.
Zhang Yi, Co-founder, Qyer.com, together with David Axiotis recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement to launch the ‘It’s My World Travle Award 2018’, which will recognise innovative tourism destinations, organisations and businesses that present the latest outbound travel trends of Chinese travellers and that are driving the positive transformation of the tourism industry. The award is presented in five categories.
The third day of the event is dedicated to ‘Education and Job’. More than 40 companies, institutions and universities, such as Ctrip, JinJiang, Huazhu, BTG-Homeinn, Sabre, Carlson Wagonlit Travel China, Wyndham Hotel Group, Utour and CAISSA Travel will be present. The Fudan University Shanghai, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) are the partners of the session.
