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Feature: HK Travel Expo Brings in Global Experience
The annual Hong Kong International Travel Expo has developed into an attractive event for both trade professionals and public visitors since it was launched 13 years ago.
"The expo has become a platform to exchange the up-to-date information of tourism," said Ho Pui Ying, Sales & Marketing General Manager of the expo's organizer, Adsale Exhibition Services.
On Saturday, the first day of the 14th expo to open to the public, thousands of Hong Kong residents poured into the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center for a visit. Ho expected that the number of public visitors this year would exceed the estimated 40, 000 for last year thanks to a remarkable economic recovery.
Lau Chi Keung, an accountant in his 40s, like many other visitors, wanted to collect information here to work out a travel plan for his coming 15-day annual summer holiday.
"We Hong Kong people work very hard and need to find a good place to relax," Lau said, with both hands carrying bags filled with colorful brochures.
More than 500 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions are attending the 14th expo, with the delegations of Brunei, Bhutan, Qatar, Ecuador, Malta, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe joining the show for the first time.
In addition to collecting information, visitors can take part in other travel-related activities.
A folk dance show, accompanied by lively music, performed by six Guam aboriginals wearing traditional costumes and a radiant smile, won warm applause from the audience while a seminar on sightseeing in Inner Mongolia drew hundreds of listeners.
Queues were formed in front of the stands of some exhibitors, who promoted their products and services by distributing cute souvenirs.
The organizer also arranged a lucky draw with prizes such as free air tickets, hotel accommodation and travel package.
In line with the market development, an information technology pavilion and golf pavilion have been added to the current expo. The Chinese delegation is a notable participant of the event, with an exhibition area occupying one-fifth of the 10,000-square- meter exhibition hall.
"China is poised to become one of the largest players in the global travel and tourism market, both as a destination and as a source of travelers to other destinations," said John M. Koldowski, director of Strategic Information Center of the Pacific-Asia Travel Association.
The World Trade Organization has predicted that China will be the fourth most important generating market, according to Koldowski.
About 5,800 buyers, including 400 hosted buyers, are attending the 14th expo, which was tailored for trade professionals on Thursday and Friday and is open to the public in the following two days.
"We will move the exhibition from the current old wing of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center to the bigger new wing next year," said Ho Pui Ying.
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