Beijing Tourism Fair Promises Strong Outbound Travel Contacts

This year’s Beijing International Tourism and Travel Market (BITTM), which takes place in Beijing April 20-23, is proving to be the premiere event of 2005 for world travel brands serious about increasing their market share from China.

BITTM organizers say this is China’s only outbound tourism exhibition with every exhibitor guaranteed to meet Chinese outbound tour operators and travel agents searching for destinations and travel products to sell to the new 1.3 billion strong Chinese outbound market.  “This is a huge, lucrative market worthy of serious attention by the global travel industry,” says organizers and adds that BITTM is the not-to-missed event of 2005 for businesses wishing to capture their share of a massive new market, ready to travel.

BITTM, a strictly outbound, business-to-business travel exhibition, promises strong outbound travel contacts.

The BITTM is strictly outbound, business-to-business with a projected attendance of nearly 20,000 Chinese travel and tourism professionals.

Market reports reveal that Chinese outbound tourism in 2003 generated over 23 million departures with over US$16 billion in overseas expenditure. With over 80 foreign destinations receiving Approved Destination Status (ADS) from the Chinese government this year, hundreds of thousands of Chinese travelers have flown on tourist visas for the very first time. The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) reports that an astounding 16 million Chinese nationals traveled abroad in the first half of 2004 alone, and the numbers are projected to increase dramatically in 2005 with the new travel concessions in place.

Asian destinations, which have been traditionally the countries of choice for Chinese travelers, will now have to compete with destinations such Europe, which saw 10,000 Chinese nationals traveling to the EU countries in the first week of October in observance of Chinese National holiday week. However, this new market is large enough for all regions to capture substantial new business with Chinese outbound tourists.

BITTM exhibitors will have an unlimited access to the BITTM buyers’ database, with critical information on over 10,000 Chinese licensed tour operators and travel agents, including the 1,500 top outbound operators.  BITTM exhibitors will be granted direct access to the database, so that they can freely contact those on the list for marketing alliances. Additionally, Indian Ocean exhibitors have access to special lower rates and other courtesies in support of the rebuilding effort in the region. All Chinese buyers will be pre-registered, completely qualified and validated prior to this prestigious event.