The tourism exhibition World Travel Fair in Shanghai
Organized every year in Shanghai and jointly run by the tourism municipal administration of Shanghai and VNU Exhibitions Europe, “World Travel Fair” is the largest China’s tourism exhibition and an inescapable event for tourism professionals, at which a wide range of tourist destinations and job sectors for the China’s most dynamic markets. A great opportunity to meet trading partners, establish new social contacts and negotiate! In 2013, this exhibition gathered more than 45.000 visitors and more than 550 exhibitors from around the world.
THE 11TH EDITION OF WORLD TRAVEL FAIR: WHICH ARE THE NEW TRENDS?
This year, World Travel Fair takes place on from 9 to 11 May in Shanghai. We went to it in order to discover the latest trends in terms of tourist destinations and keep you informed.
Firstly, we noticed that Chinese tourists are really attracted to Japan: they are a lot of dynamic Japanese exhibitors promoting high end tourist offers. South Korea seems also be successful by Chinese people, who naturally tend to focus on neighboring countries when they travel.
A large stand promotes New Zealand. Exhibitors have succeeded in attracting a lot of travel agencies thanks to an Online-to-Offline campaign.
Thailand has a very dynamic and attractive stand as well, with the presence of tourism organizations, but they are very few travel agencies in front of the stand, asking for contacts.
The Philippines is not difficult to notice: the country seems to stake everything on China. All is done to attract Chinese tourists: staging, very dynamic stands, presence of numerous high end hotels and resorts, especially those which are located in Boracay, the Philippines’ island which makes tourists from all around the world dream.
You can understand easily that Asian and Oceania countries are leading this 11th edition of World Travel Fair. Western countries are far behind: they are barely discernible. Eastern European countries (Czechoslovakia for example) are present but have difficulties to make Chinese people dream. Chinese tend to rush towards exotic and idyllic destinations. To our great surprise, a top tourist destination – highly appreciate by Chinese – is missing: France! The country is totally asbent: no stand, no exhibitors. Very disappointing! It seems that marketing and communication are not the strength of France… Yet, France’s tourist assets are still highly appreciated by Chinese people: the presence of the country in this exhibition was doubtless expected and would have been relevant.
Once again this year, the exhibition welcomes a huge number of people, visitors as well as tourism professionals. The 50-yuan entrance does not discourage: the exhibition is overcrowded and stands are full of visitors. World Travel Fair is so very successful once again, this year, and seems to be a reference and an inescapable event for tourism professionals in China.
The address: Shanghai Exhibition Center, 1000 Yan’an Road, Nanjing Xi Lu
More information on http://www.worldtravelfair.com.cn/en/
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