Outbound continue growing, Hong Kong's only Travel Expo (ITE) to double scale

HONG KONG,March 8,2023 -- The annual ITE,Hong Kong's only and Asia's major outbound travel fair,will next be held from 15 to 18 June 2023 in halls 1 of Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre,with two trade days and two public days. Its first 1.5 days admit only registered trade while in remaining days visitors can pay for admission. Favorable developments result in very encouraging response from exhibitors and visitors,ITE2023 will double in size to 4 halls and possibly more,and highly international too.

Hong Kong often ranked Asia's third largest source market. In 2019,Hong Kong spent US$26.9 billion on international tourism and ranked the World's 12th largest souce market,and outbound to Japan reached over 2 million.

Strong rebound of Hong Kong outbound continues. Hong Kong residents made 70% more departures in last October over September,and made 453,000 departures in Chinese New Year,up 50 times over last year. Some 600 tour groups departed in December with 30% to non-Asian destinations like Europe. As Japan lifted restrictions on March 1,major travel agents reported Hong Kong tour groups to Japan during Easter 90% or fully booked.

Mainland border reopened in January. Soon some 250 mainland exhibitors joined a Hong Kong Toy Fair,and 105,000 mainland tourists came during the Spring Festival Golden Week. Pre-pandemic,ITE had some 3000 mainland buyers,while China and Japan respectively stage the largest and second largest pavilions.

Pent-up travel demand exist but growth been restricted by flight and outbound recovery mainly occur later this year. In fact,Cathay will increase passenger capacity from 30% to 70% in this year. Thus,ITE Hong Kong 2023 in June is well-timed.

Pre-pandemic,the highly international ITE drew some 700 exhibitors from over 50 countries and regions,over 11000 regional buyers and trade visitors covering the greater bay area; and 80000 quality FIT visitors. Each of ITE2021 and ITE2022 attended physically by over 30000 trade and FIT visitors.

First held over 35 years ago,the annual ITE is Asia's major outbound travel fair,organized byTKS Exhibition Services Ltdand strongly supported by China's Ministry of Culture & Tourism with Hong Kong Tourism Board,Macau Government Tourist Office and Hong Kong Travel Industry Council etc. as Supporters. For details,visit www.itehk.com.