THAILAND - Organiser of the 18th Incentive Travel and Conventions Meetings Asia (IT&CMA), TTG Asia Media, claims its Bangkok-based exhibition attracted 50 per cent more corporate travel buyers and a 20 per cent increase in exhibitors, year-on-year.
The Asia-Pacific is expected to receive more than 100m business tourists by 2015, up from 40m in 2002, according to information released at IT&CMA 2010. Corporate travel in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to make up about a third of a global market worth US$900bn, with China, Japan and India leading the way.
Held at the Bangkok Convention Centre (BCC) at CentralWorld, 5-7 October 2010, IT&CMA this year attracted 151 conference delegates from 22 countries, 483 buyers from 54 countries and 142 international media. New buyer markets represented included Egypt, Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Portugal, Slovenia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine.
There were 780 exhibitors from 38 countries and 5,500sqm of floor space were taken. Singapore, Korea, Seoul, Brunei and Indonesia all brought more stand partners.
“Sentiment on the exhibition floor was more positive than last year, with greater opportunities for sealing business deals,” said Joachim Fischer, Editor-in-Chief of Tourism Insider, Germany. “The quantity and profile of potential buyers is one of the show’s strengths.”
The Thai pavilion occupied 399sqm, the largest in this year’s show, with cities Chiang Mai and Pattaya increasing their presence.
Vice-President of Chapter Relations for US-Based National Business Travel Association (NBTA), Hank Roeder, announced at the show his association’s change name for the to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). The GBTA has appointed Mark Rizzuto as its Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific.
