REPORT - PATA Travel Mart - HANGZHOU: Two leading research and consulting organizations for the Chinese tourism markets have agreed to join forces during the PATA Travel Mart, held in Hangzhou from September 23-25, 2009.

Even in times of economic turbulence and growing competition, inbound, domestic and outbound tourism in China continues to develop strongly. For sustainable growth and optimized service quality, which incorporates knowledge about different cultural backgrounds of Chinese and non-Chinese customer groups, the tourism industry needs research, marketing planning, training and quality assessment. COTRI and BTI have decided to work closely together to support the tourism industry both inside and outside of China.

The COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, based in Germany and led by its Director Prof. Wolfgang Georg Arlt is the worldwide leading independent research institute for research, consulting and quality assessment relating to the Chinese Outbound Tourism market. Belle Tourism International Consulting (BTI), an international tourism and hospitality advisory services company based in Shanghai under the leadership of its President and CEO Prof. Alastair Morrison provides advice, research and practical solutions for the Chinese and Pan-Pacific markets. BTI is the leading destination marketing and research company in China with a focus on the inbound and domestic markets.

"With our locations in Europe and China and our different core competencies the partnership provides the tourism industry with a strong source for all services needed to develop the fast growing and segmenting Chinese tourism market“ said Prof. Arlt during the signing ceremony. "The PATA Travel Mart in Hangzhou as the major tourism event for the Asia-Pacific region provides the ideal venue for the start of our cooperation“, added Prof. Morrison.