Nepal Garners Goodwill & Positivity from Int. Partners at ITE & MICE Expo HK, 2015Monday, December 28th, 2015
HONG KONG, PRC, June 14, 2015 - Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) along with five Nepalese tourism companies and Nepal Airlines Corporation participated in the 29th International Travel Expo (ITE) and MICE Expo Hong Kong from June 11-14, 2015. The ITE Hong Kong is a global travel Expo and MICE exchange platform in Hong Kong.
The Nepal stall attracted huge numbers of enthusiastic buyers, media persons and the general public alike. Buyers were more focused on the post earthquake visits to Nepal and the general public had queries on connectivity and adventure products of Nepal. Both print and electronic media frequented Nepal’s stall and were apprised of the post earthquake tourism scenario.
The first two days were reserved for trade sector where, as per official records of ITE, over 12,000 buyers and visitors met. By sectors, some 6,000 were from travel agents and around 2,500 were from the MICE industry and corporations. In the last two days, opened for public, over 75,000 visited the Expo, majority being Hong Kong’s affluent Free Independent Travelers (FIT).
NTB in co-ordination with the Consulate General in Hong Kong also organized a press event, Meet the Press, at the fair venue on June 11, 2015, where Mr. Ramesh Kumar Adhikari, Administrative Chief –NTB, made a presentation on Nepal highlighting the present tourism context of Nepal, followed by questions and answers from the media. Similarly, Mr. Mahesh Prasad Dahal, Consul General of Nepal to Hong Kong, briefed the media on Government efforts on relief work. Mr. Lincoln Linn, Honorary PRR of Nepal in Hong Kong, was also present at the press meet, which was attended by leading travel-trade related media of the region such as TTG, Action Asia and Lonely Planet.
Prior to the event, the NTB team had called on the Consulate General Office to discuss Nepal’s tourism and to exchange ideas on joint promotion post 25/4 earthquake, where the Consulate General Mr. Dahal recommended further promotional activities in Hong Kong to boost outbound tourism from Hong Kong to Nepal.
One highlight of the Expo was UNESCO’s fund raising event for recovery and restoration of the World Heritage Sites damaged by earthquake in Kathmandu Valley. Mr. Pun Ping Hung, Founding President of Su Yi Chuan Calligraphy Association of Hong Kong, showcased Chinese Calligraphy, a recognized intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2009, at UNESCO’s booth at the Expo. The calligraphy work of Mr. Pun was used for charity sale at the Expo. Also, President of the Association, Mr. Patrick Lau, an experienced architect and hand-sketch lover, dedicated illustrations of two World Heritage Sites in Nepal, which was produced as souvenir postcards for charity sale at Expo.
The Expo provided an ideal platform for exchange of new ideas, new market products and to showcase diverse tourism services to increase prospective travelers from mainland China and Hong Kong. As per official records, the Expo draws some 50 countries from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas with over 650 exhibitors, in particular 85 percent from abroad. It covers various travel products and highlights trendy travel themes through displays, demonstrations and seminars etc. Its profile of international exhibitors and regional trade visitors is effective for both networking and business. ITE and MICE events cover the regional travel trade, MICE and corporate travel, and affluent FIT, under one roof.
The ITE and MICE Hong Kong Expo was led by Administrative Chief of NTB Mr. Adhikari with Mr. Sunil Sharma, Manager -NTB, and Ms. Ranu Shah, Sr. Officer - NTB. Nepal Dream Travel Service, Red Carpet Tours and Travels, Sunrise International Travel, Nepal Social Treks and Expedition, and Worldways Tours and Travels, as co-exhibitors were representatives of the private sector tourism industry of Nepal at the Expo.
