Hong Kong’s only international travel expo, ITE & MICE, which this year will be held from June 14 to 17 at halls 1A to 1E of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center, will feature over 600 exhibitors from some 50 countries and regions from Africa, Americas, Asia and Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Some 80% of exhibitors of ITE & MICE come from outside Hong Kong, and about half of the participating countries and regions are from outside Asia. Coupled with its practical seminars, the Travel Expo offers regional buyers and trade visitors an effective platform for networking, sourcing of ideas, products and suppliers, and conducting businesses.

Some past exhibitors expand their scale of participation in the Travel Expo this year, amid tightening of government budgets. The official pavilion of Japan, which often ranked second or third by scale in ITE & MICE in recent years, will take 30% more space, while those of Brazil, Moscow, and Tunisia, which were new last year, will have double digit expansions and the largest of which is Moscow at some 50%. The trend of exhibitors taking their own stands outside the official pavilions also accelerates this year.

New official stands and pavilions this year come from Angola, Azerbaijan and Zagreb, capital of Croatia. While themes like Cruise and Wellness will continue being highlighted, launching this year is the new theme of Honeymooning and Overseas Wedding. In recent years, ITE & MICE has been featuring many international destinations popular for honeymooning, and the new launch is expected to draw even more related travel agents, operators, resorts and hotels.

Held in collaboration with regional trade associations are the “Asian Outbound Seminar” with speakers from Singapore, India and Malaysia, and “Cruise Training Seminar” by the Asia Cruise Association. The second trade day will again be designated as MICE/Corporate Travel Day with a series of related seminars.

The first two days of ITE & MICE are open only to trade, and those related are invited to apply or pre-register online for free admission. Management in outbound travel agents and those responsible for outbound MICE are welcome to apply the hosted buyer programme, which offers to successful applicants substantial discounts on hotel rates and other benefits.

ITE & MICE is organised by TKS Exhibition Services Ltd., and supported by the China National Tourism Administration, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, and Macau Government Tourist Office.