The seventh edition of Reed Travel Exhibitions’ (RTE) CIBTM meetings
industry trade show opened in Beijing, 12 September, as the UN World
Tourism Organisation predicts China will be the world’s largest country
for inbound tourism by 2020. New global research by HSBC Bank also
shows that six of China’s provinces will have an annual GDP of more
than US$1tn.
Data from the London Media Center of the London 2012
Olympic Games recently claimed Chinese visitors spent more on average
than other nationalities during the London Games.
Many meetings
industry suppliers are, thus, testing the Chinese waters for the first
time at the seventh and largest CIBTM since the inaugural edition in
2005. Over 400 global industry suppliers are exhibiting at the China
National Convention Center (CNCC).
Organiser RTE is predicting
4,000 visitors to the show and the Visit England stand was one of many
practically overrun on the first morning of business.
Hosted buyer numbers are up a third on 2011, according to RTE.
“The
2012 edition of Reed Travel Exhibitions show’s growth parallels the
rapid developments of China and Asia’s MICE and business travel
industry, which is now worth an estimated US$150bn in 2011 and growing
annually by 20 per cent,” said CIBTM Project Manager, Jeffry Xu, in his
welcome to visitors.
The show, supported by the Beijing
Municipal Commssion of Tourism Development, has Chinese cities Chengdu,
Zhangjakou and Wizhen all showcasing latest developments and future
plans alongside new international destinations including Madrid,
Switzerland, Chicago, Orlando, Okinawa and the Netherlands.
Leading
industry associations ICCA, SITE, MPI, ACTE and PCMA are all
delivering education sessions at the show. There are 19 Chinese and
English seminars in total during the three-day event.
ICCA CEO Martin Sirk told CN the level of questions at the ICCA press conference from local media had indicated “a high level of industry knowledge”.
CNCC staff entertained the audience with singing and dancing in the Ballroom for the first evening’s welcome reception.
This
year’s show also has stepped up security against a backdrop of
anxieties of a demonstration at the Japanese stand at CIBTM against a
backdrop of heightened tension over the escalating dispute over the
Diaoyu/Senkaku islands.
Do you have news for CN? Email: pcolston@mashmedia.net
