ITB Berlin News 2018 - Review Edition

NEWS
5
© Messe Berlin GmbH
FINLAND IS
PARTNER
DESTINATION
OF ITB CHINA
2018
Finland is the Partner Destination of ITB China
and Heli Mende, Director, Head of Visit Finland,
says that Chinese travellers are a very important
tourism source market for Finland.
ITB China 2018 Preview event @ ITB Berlin 2018
ITB China Partners
EU-China Tourism Year
“From January to November 2017, the number
of overnights from China to Finland reached
321,172 with a 34.3% growth compared to
January to December 2016. China represents the
fifth largest group of travellers to Finland,” she
noted of the impressive rise in arrivals from the
far eastern market.
“We are continually working to enhance our
partnership with travel trade partners in China
to provide unique travel products to Chinese
travellers and ITB China provides us with a great
platform to present Finland to Chinese decision
makers,” she added.
ITB China, which takes place from May
16-18 in Shanghai, has become the official
partner event of EU-China Tourism Year
(ECTY). For the second year, Europe will
again be the largest exhibitor at ITB China
2018.
2018 is a special year for both the Chinese
and Europe travel industry with EU-China
Tourism Year (ECTY) marking a special
collaboration between two major travel
markets. But the importance of the crosscontinent
promotion has been boosted
with the announcement that ITB China
has become an official partner event of the
ECTY.
The first ITB China marked its successful
premiere in 2017, the show quickly
establishing itself as a vital new travel
industry marketplace in the far east. And
with the ECTY designed to help EU and
Chinese tourism businesses, authorities
and all other stakeholders participating
in successful commercial and cultural
exchanges between the European Union
and China, teaming up ITB China and the
ECTY makes good strategic sence.
After the collaboration was finalised, David
Axiotis, General Manager ITB China, said:
“To enhance the visibility of the European
countries as appealing travel destinations
in Greater China and promote mutual
exchanges between Europe and China, I
see the EU-China Tourism Year as the best
initiative one can think of and ITB China as
the best marketplace to be that connecting
bridge between the prospering Chinese
travel market, the world and specifically
Europe.”
Eduardo Santander, Executive Director,
European Travel Commission, added
that ITB China is an excellent platform to
showcase Europe’s unique and diverse
natural and cultural heritage, and to foster
cooperation between tourism business in
Europe and China.
“We are confident that this partnership will
contribute to achieve the objectives of the
EU-China Tourism Year,” Santander said.
Organisers note that demand for exhibition
space at this year’s ITB China is again very
high, while Europe, the partner destination
last year, has become a central attraction
at China’s new travel trade marketplace.
The dedicated Europe Pavilion at ITB China
will showcase a multitude of European
tourism products and destinations. As the
largest exhibitor, Europe will again have
a strong exhibition presence on the show
floor and will participate in numerous
events in the run-up to ITB China
Finland is also looking forward to taking part in
the EU China Tourism Year, for which ITB China
is an official partner event.
“As a member of the European Union, Finland is
thrilled to contribute to this year of co-operation
and celebration between China and Europe,”
Mende said.
Around 50 delegates from Finland will be
representing the country at ITB China.
David Axiotis, General Manager ITB China, said:
“Finland has proven that it is attaching a great
importance in enhancing Chinese tourists’ travel
experience. Finland is running a multitude of visa
centres in China, working on e-visa solutions
for Chinese tourists and has opened up for
Chinese mobile payments systems adding a lot
of convenience for Chinese visiting Finland”
ITB Berlin 2018 - ITB China 2018
Preview Event - David Axiotis,
General Manager ITB China
© Messe Berlin GmbH
ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 21 st March 2018