In a survey on the 70,000 public visitors of Hong Kong’s only Travel Expo, over 70% of the respondents said they will spend more on travel in the coming 12 months, some 25% not sure and less than 5% will definitely not.

A whopping 74% of the respondents prefer traveling as individual travelers (FIT), and another 6% in tailored made tour groups. Both are higher than corresponding figures last year of 71% and 5%, and consistent with the finding of more travel spending as traveling in FIT often costs more than package tour.

Findings show more did and/or interested in “booking tours and purchasing travel products” at the Travel Expo, an increase from 18% last year to 20% this year. But “attending travel seminars” at 29% and “collecting travel information” at 94% remain the second most and the most popular purpose for visiting.

The survey this year collected a total of 4305 effective replies, including onsite and those submitted online. Females account for 61% of all respondents, while the two dominant age groups are those between 15 and 34 years old and between 35 and 65, accounting respectively of 42% and 55% of the respondents.

They are well educated, as respectively 43% and 25% have university and post-secondary education. Also, 20% reported having monthly income of over HK$30,000 (or US$3,846), and 57% earning between $10,001 and $30,000 each month.

The public visitors of ITE & MICE are travel enthusiasts, from survey findings, as 18% made 5 or more overnight leisure trips in the past twelve months and 75% made two or more. When asked for destination of their longest trip in the past twelve months, China (mainland) was chosen by 22%, northeast Asia by 19%, southeast Asia by 15%, Europe by 14%, Americas by 5%, Oceania by 4%, Middle East & Africa by 2% which could have been affected by the “Arab Spring” last year.

Each year, the Travel Expo highlights some trendy travel themes, and to take a snapshot of the market this year, respondents were asked to express, in gross term, their interests: Travel Photography at 52%, Cruise at 34%, Study Tours at 18%, Honeymooning at 16%, and Wellness at 11%.

Held annually, the two trade days of ITE & MICE this year drew 12,175 buyers and trade visitors with 20% from mainland China and 7% from abroad, and two public days. There were 665 international exhibitors from 54 countries & regions, with 85% of the exhibitors from outside Hong Kong.

Mr. John TSANG Chun-wah, Financial Secretary of the Government of Hong Kong, and Mr SHAO Qiwei, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration officiated the opening of ITE & MICE 2012, which co-located the 26th International Travel Expo Hong Kong (ITE) and the 7th MICE Travel Expo (ITE MICE).

Organized by TKS Exhibition Services Ltd, the next ITE & MICE will be held from June 13-16, 2013 at halls 1A to 1E of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. For further info, please visit our trade websites of www.itehk.com. For enquiry, please use the online enquiry form at the trade website, send email to travel@tkshk.com , or fax to (852) 3520 1500.

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Issued by:

TKS Exhibition Services Ltd | Room 601, Stanhope House, 734 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 3155 0600 | Fax: (852) 3520 1500 | Email: travel@tkshk.com

Trade Website: www.itehk.com | Public Website: www.travelexpo.com.hk