ITB Asia, Asia’s premier travel trade show, commenced today at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, the 17th edition promises an expansive and diverse platform, bringing together over 85 tourism organisations and convention bureaus from around the globe. With an impressive 75% increase in African exhibitors and 25% growth from Europe, ITB Asia 2024 is poised to deliver unparalleled opportunities for industry professionals to expand networks, foster partnerships, and explore new markets.
This year’s event, which spans three exhibition halls, showcases a wide variety of exhibitors from across the travel ecosystem, including destinations, airlines, hotels, cruises, and the MICE industry. Travel Tech Asia will present cutting-edge technological solutions, featuring startups and industry-leading companies focused on travel technology advancements.
Keynote Opening and Dignitaries in Attendance
The official opening was graced by prominent figures including Mr. Alvin Tan, Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Ms. Melissa Ow, Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin, and Mr. David Ruetz, Senior Vice President at Messe Berlin. They officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony, accompanied by a traditional lion dance performance.
Unprecedented Growth and Participation
ITB Asia 2024 highlights the growing global presence in the travel trade industry, with tourism organisations from Africa increasing their participation by 75%, and Europe by 25%. The event will host over 85 tourism organisations, offering participants insights into emerging markets and breakthrough innovations. Among the participating countries and organisations are key tourism authorities including the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, Visit Norway, Tourism Armenia, Visit Jordan, the Ministry of Tourism Government of India, and many others.
Asia and Oceania represent 56% of the exhibitor base, with Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East contributing the remaining 44%. Exhibitors cover a diverse range of industries within tourism, including Tourism Promotion Boards (28%), Tour Operators & Attractions (34%), Accommodation (27%), and Transportation & Travel Tech (11%).
Innovative Conference Programme
Running parallel to the exhibition is the ITB Asia Conference, featuring over 4,000 minutes of content delivered by 160 expert speakers across 100 sessions. This year’s conference theme, “Innovating for Tomorrow: Strengthening Future Resilience in Travel and Tourism,” will focus on key areas such as MICE, corporate travel, leisure travel, and advancements in travel technology. With three dedicated conference tracks – Knowledge Theatre, MICE Show Asia, and Travel Tech Asia – the sessions will provide insights into the latest trends and future strategies within the travel industry.
Looking Ahead: 2025 Early Bird Registration
Building on this year’s success, ITB Asia has already opened Super Early Bird registration for exhibitors for the 2025 edition. Companies interested in securing their spot for next year can register online at itb-asia.com/exhibiting before 31 October 2024 or visit the onsite Sales Booth.
For more information about ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia, or Travel Tech Asia, please visit: www.itb-asia.com, www.miceshowasia.com, and www.traveltechasia.com.