Hong Kong travel expo draws 450 exhibitors

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 ◆ Hong Kong travel expo draws 450 exhibitors

The four-day International Travel Expo Hong Kong (ITE HK 2002) starts on May 30 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

At a news conference held in Hong Kong on May 29, Stanley Chu, chairman of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd, the organizer of the event, said that the exposition was well supported, with over 450 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and regions worldwide.

A remarkable and very positive sign is that more than 400 pre-registered buyers from more than 30 countries and regions will attend the show, with a record 200 of them coming from the Chinese mainland.

"This demonstrates how the industry professionals are responding to the emerging market in the Chinese mainland, both inbound and outbound, especially since China's entry into the World Trade Organization," said Chu.

According to the organizer, the Chinese mainland is shaping up to be the biggest outbound market, with a record 12 million outbound travellers in 2001, and an expected increase of around 20 per cent this year.

"Hong Kong's travel market will surely benefit from this, since Hong Kong is in the vicinity of this promising market," he said.