MICE CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE

By per capita spending, Hong Kong is No 1 among World’s 10 largest Outbound Markets

Focusing on affluent travels, ITE Hong Kong, the city’s only travel fair, covers leisure, theme and MICE travels, and draws visitors from regional travel trade, corporations, MICE and Hong Kong’s affluent FIT in separate days.

The 7.2 million citizens of Hong Kong spent US$24.1 billion on outbound in 2016, and ranked World’s 10th or Asia’s 3rd largest market! This is equivalent to per capita outbound spending of US$3,280, which puts Hong Kong No 1 of the world’s 10 largest markets and well ahead of the second highest Australia at US$1,039, and the third highest Germany at US$982!

A quality outbound market, Hong Kong citizens can visit some 150 countries and regions without visa.

ITE Hong Kong draws in two trade days, which require business card to register for admission, 12,312 regional buyers and visitors of which 54% from travel agents and OTA, and 18 percent from MICE and corporations ; and in two public days 89750 visitors of which 87% prefer FIT /private tours.

Some 72% of the trade visitors come from Hong Kong, while respectively 19% and 10% from mainland China and other parts of Asia !  Of its 645 exhibitors some 85 percent came from abroad, and among half of the 56 exhibiting countries and regions from outside Asia ! Thus, the regional trade visitors can meet directly with worldwide suppliers !

Held in the two trade days are some 25 events including Business Matching for quick dating between sellers and buyers, seminars, industry forums and prize presentations etc. With several related seminars one of which on Voltuneer Tourism the second trade day was again designated as MICE /Corporate Travel Day, and this year some 180 exhibitors targeted the MICE market. In fact, ITE has been highlighting theme travels in recent years trough trade and public semianrs and special displays etc. to better attract affluent travelers including FIT and from MICE.

ITE public visitors are highly educated as 45% had university education, and travel frequently with 12% had “6 or more” and 44% with “3 to 5” overseas holidays in past year. Majority came for planning holidays and largely filled up the some 100 travel seminars held in the public days, while over 30% also interested in onsite booking / purchases.

ITE Hong Kong not only maintains seperate trade and public websites, but also had seperate visitor promotions and seminar programs etc. for trade and public days.

Supported by China National Tourism Administration, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Macao Government Tourism Office, other tourism authorities and related trade associations in the region, ITE Hong Kong is organised by TKS Exhibition Services Ltd.

ITE Hong Kong 2018, which combines the 32nd ITE (leisure), 13th ITE MICE, will be held from June 14 to 17 at Halls 1A to 1E of the Hong Kong Convention Exhibition Centre, with the first two days open to trade only and the last two days to public.

For further information, please visit www.itehk.com