At PATA Travel Mart 2008 (PTM 2008) in Hyderabad, India, the Chinese fielded a delegation almost as large as India's. Some 40 buyers and 40 sellers from China attended the September 16-19 event.

With the scenic town of Hangzhou hosting PATA Travel Mart next year, the Chinese delegation has been gung-ho about both PTM 2008 and PATA.

Randal Liu of the Parkland Hotel, Dalian went so far as to exclaim: "I think all hotels in China should become members of PATA!"

Daniel Xu, President of Blue Ocean International Travel agreed, saying "PATA has been a great bridge".

Alice Wang Xiangyun, Deputy Director of the Chinese National Tourism Organisation, said "PATA has made a great difference to the Chinese tourism industry" since the Association opened an office in Beijing.

On PTM 2008, Ms Wang added: "We had great exposure, and were happy with the professionally fixed appointments and the personalised style of the Mart."

China Environment Internet Travel Service's YiFei Du said PTM 2008 was unbelievably efficient and professional. "In fact," she declared. "It is better than many of the bigger events."

First-time participant at the Mart, Yong Yu of Chengdu Culture & Tourism Development Group in Sichuan province, said: "We're grateful to PATA for giving us a complimentary booth so that we can promote our province after the May earthquake. We were very happy to meet buyers from the US and many European countries."

Wu Hao of Anhui Provincial Tourism Administration, a newly signed PATA member, said: "We met the whole world at PTM 2008, from the US to Saudi Arabia!"

Hangzhou Tourism Commission's Han Xiao complimented Hyderabad on its hosting of PATA Travel Mart 2008. "We're proud to host PTM next year, and hope to do as superb a Mart as this," he exclaimed.