Once again, several travel associations in the region will organize buyer delegations, or encourage their members to attend ITE this year. These are in parallel with the official buyer hosting program, which is being sponsored by Cathay Pacific (CX) and Dragonair (KA), our Sponsoring Airlines, respectively for overseas and Mainland China, and Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train (KCRC), our Official Rail, particularly for buyers from the Southern China.

Hong Kong Inbound Travel Association, HKITA, will probably organize the largest buyer delegation as this year they will officially host their FAM Tour during ITE. Last year, HKITA has brought in around 100 buyers and this year the number may go up to close to 200.

Thai Travel Agents Association and Taipei Association of Travel Agents will again organize buyer delegations.
There will also be a buying delegation from India organized by a marketing company with close link to the tourism industry there. The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents and the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore have confirmed supports and will help promoting ITE and encouraging their members to attend. Some other outbound associations are still in discussion.

We are thankful for the continuous supports from all these trade associations and our sponsors! In view of the substantial expansion this year and greater varieties on display, we expect to get more attendance in this year?, said KS Tong, Managing Director of TKS the organizer.

Over 500 hosted buyers attended ITE last year, which drew 8400 buyers and trade visitors. Among them, around 20% and 15% came respectively from Mainland China and overseas. For the first time, about 10 hotels in Hong Kong will offer special rates to overseas trade visitors to facilitate their visits to ITE this year.