The year of 2009 has been designated as the Hong Kong - Japan Tourism Exchange Year for promoting tourism and enhancing cultural exchanges, according to a press release issued by the Hong Kong SAR Government on October 31, and in addition to cultural exchange events plans "are underway to leverage large-scale events such as the International Chinese New Year Night Parade, the International Travel Expo (ITE) and the unprecedented staging of the East Asian Games in Hong Kong".

"We welcome such plan and would be pleased to discuss with related parties for better coordination", said Mr KS Tong, Managing Director of TKS which organizes ITE & ITE MICE.

For years, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, also a supporter, has been organizing a pavilion in ITE, which is being supplemented by individual exhibitors and a zone for local travel agents since last year. In recent years the Japan pavilion in ITE, which is often participated by Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO), has been enjoying substantial growths in size and around 40% more space has been reserved for the next ITE.

Japan and Hong Kong are both popular international destinations and source markets of international traveler. In fact, the UNWTO ranked Japan first and Hong Kong fourth in Asia by international tourism expenditure in 2006. Hong Kong citizens can visit Japan without visa spur interests. Last year, Japan received 0.43 million visitors from Hong Kong, as compared to 0.51 million from mainland China in the same period.

The 23rd edition of ITE will be held from June 11 to 14, 2009 while the next ITE MICE from June 11 to 13, at halls 1A to 1E at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center.