Singapore (October 22, 2010). The figures of the 3rd ITB Asia prove the general trend to recovery and the new depth in the tourism business. The sister trade fair of the ITB Berlin records six percent more exhibitors and an increased quality consciousness among the purchasers, as hospitalityInside.com was able to find out in Singapore this week. Again, the hotel industry presented the largest percentage of exhibitors.
The growing acceptance of the ITB Asia resulted in tighter aisles and narrower stands but also higher ones. "Within one decade, we would like to be the leading travel trade fair in Asia," said Dr. Martin Buck, Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore). After the difficult year 2008, the mood is positive again – Asia remains a promising growth market, which was also discovered by Egypt, the official "partner country" of this year''s ITB Asia. Nino Gruettke, new Executive Director of the ITB Asia, who has been in Singapore for nine months now, expects to extend the exhibition area to an additional level in the Suntec Singapore Center within two years at the latest.
This week, they are hoping for as many visitors as last year: about 6,200.
In 2010, the B2B trade fair, e.g. the first "Luxury Meetings Forum", presented new accents (report follows). The first "Association Day" was very well accepted - a meeting and further training event for associations. They proved to be the more reliable MICE partners during the crisis. For this special event, 20 enrolments were expected, but 95 followed.
Some exhibitors noted positively that the quality of this year''s purchasers rose significantly, and the number of buyers from Europe increased from 13% to 25%. However, the number of hosted buyers from Asia decreased from 70% to 54%. This provided the desired mix ratio of exhibitors.
An extensive report about the ITB Asia including exhibitors'' opinions will follow next week. / map
October 15, 2010 Where Europe meets Asia
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