Messe Berlin: Now we’re No 1 in Asia

SINGAPORE – The organisers of ITB Asia – Messe Berlin – opened this year’s show at Suntec Singapore by declaring that the show had grown “to become twice the size of its nearest travel trade competitors in the region” after just one year. Watch Video: ITB Asia – Berlin.

Pressed to nominate ITB Asia’s competitors, Messe Berlin CEO Raimund Hosch nominated PATA Travel Mart, held most recently in Hangzhou, China.

“But on one side we’re competitors with PATAMart and on the other we help each other,” Hosch said.

The Messe Berlin chief said that ITB Asia was close to breaking even this year although later Singapore Tourism Board’s Melissa Ow conceded that the show had been given extra STB funding this year. Ow did not reveal the extent of the funding. Watch Video: ITB Asia – Berlin

Hosch said this year’s ITB Asia would “let the sun shine again on Asia’s travel industry" and described the past 12 months as a “tumultuous year” for tourism.

Hosch said ITB Asia 2009 had “broadly maintained its size”, with 679 exhibitor organizations from 60 countries being targeted by 553 vetted buyers from 50 countries.

In addition, 1,144 trade visitors have registered online.

The 2009 edition of ITB Asia has a greater preponderance of Asian buyers compared to last year. In part this is due to Asian economies doing better than economies in Europe and North America.

Hosch said, “Showcasing global travel products to Asian buyers is the core value proposition of ITB Asia. Soft economies in Europe and North America have made ITB Asia more of an Asian show this year.”