Press Release
31 Oct 2016
ITE HONG KONG
2016 Survey reveals latest preferences of Hong Kong’s Affluent FIT
The survey held in last June on public visitors of ITE, Hong Kong’s only travel fair, found them seasoned travellers as 44% took three to five holidays while another 10% had six or more in past year; well educated as 45% had university education and another 24% post-secondary, so they likely are affluent travellers. The survey collected over 4000 replies, online and face to face included.
Their top five destinations by region in next two years are respectively North and Northeast Asia at 61%, Europe at 42%, South and Southeast Asia at 41%, Oceania and Pacific islands at 29% and the Americas at 21%. Interest to visit Europe remains strong despite terrorist concern, though some may visit its northern or eastern parts instead!
The annual ITE Hong Kong was last attended by 604 exhibitors from 52 countries / regions; 12081 regional buyers and trade visitors in two trade days, and 87812 visitors in two public days with 84% prefer travelling in FIT or in private tour. In fact, FIT dominates Hong Kong’s outbound and fast gaining popularity among China’s wealthy too!
Where do they buy FIT products? The survey found 38% from travel agents and 47% from OTA (online travel agent)! But the most preferred channel at 62% is buying direct from suppliers like airline and even hotel / resort. In fact, our survey last year found 56% of respondents even interested in joining local tours after arriving at the destination.
On travel spending in the coming year, 16.6% respondents reported will be spending less, while the remaining 83.4% will either spend more or not sure. Figures thus suggest Hong Kong outbound may suffer uncertainty or slower growth, instead of outright down fall!
These public visitors are using ITE to better prepare their holidays! In fact, 76% visit ITE to plan holiday and 25% even attend seminar there, which total over 100 in the two public days. Around 37% interest in making purchases or bookings at the travel fair.
With travelling now part of life style, visitors show great interest on various travel themes! Of those surveyed, themes of “travel photography” and “in-depth & culture” lead with each at over 30%; while for examples “cruise”, “sport tourism”, “food & wine”, “eco-tours” and “driving tour” each drew interest level of over 20%!
Interestingly, trade visitors at 23% are more interested in the “Overseas Wedding” theme than the public at 11% or around 9690 visitors who are equivalent to around 18% of all newly wedding couples each year in Hong Kong. No surprise, as wedding often involves group holding events like ceremony and banquet etc!
Few travel fairs in Asia promote and highlight theme travel including travel for affluent FIT, and ITE Hong Kong is the notable exception! That and the importance of Hong Kong as a source market, indeed, make ITE much more attractive!
In 2015, Hong Kong was ranked the world’s 11th largest and Asia’s 3rd largest source markets, and spent US$22.9 billion on international travel. In fact, its per capita travel spending is respectively at 6 times the second largest and 14 times the largest markets!
ITE Hong Kong 2017, which combines effectively the 31st ITE (leisure) and the 12th ITE MICE for synergy to benefit both exhibitors and visitors, will be held from June 15 to 18, 2017 at Halls 1A to 1E of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Requiring registration for admission, the first two days are for trade only with B2B program including Business Matching for quick dating between exhibitors and buyers, assistance in staging presentations, and some 20 seminars on leisure, MICE and theme travels etc.
Organized by TKS Exhibition Services Ltd, ITE Hong Kong is supported by China National Tourism Administration, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Macao Government Tourism Office, and trade associations from the travel and MICE in the region with chambers of commerce and professional bodies help distributing invitations to members.
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Issued by:TKS Exhibition Services Ltd |Unit 3703B, 148 Electric Road, North Point, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 3155 0600 | Fax: (852) 3520 1500 | Email:
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