ITB Asia News 2019 Day 2
THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER 2019 DAY 2 EDITION CONTENTS 2 NEWS 9 TRADE TALK 11 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS 12 SPECIAL FEATURE: TRANSPORT 13 SPECIAL FEATURE: LUXURY TRAVEL 14 SPECIAL FEATURE: MICE 15 REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: EUROPE 18 WHERE TO GO IN SINGAPORE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Thoyyib Mohamed Managing Director, Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation Tourists can discover the life of communities and enjoy an authentic experience by living with locals.. See page 11 New ideas… new players ITB Asia 2019 showcases a more diversified industry offering than ever In a sector that’s in constant evolution, ITB Asia this year again fulfils its role of bringing to the fore the newest ideas in the industry, and those companies that are set to be the “big players” of tomorrow. The diversity of national offerings at the show has never been broader, and increased competition and diversity among industry professionals and distribution partners adds to the importance of the event. And while the big global online and offline groups continue to battle it out for market share, newer players, such as Trip.com – part of the massive Ctrip group – are stepping up to the mark in this part of the world (see our exclusive trade interview, page 9). But what differentiates the offerings? Face-to-face meetings between key stakeholders, and conference sessions by thought-leaders, enable attendees to gain a firm understanding of who does what, and why one size never fits all. Blanca Menchaca CEO, BeMyGuest Edmund Weng General Manager, Singapore and Malaysia, Trip.com Our research shows just how unique and complicated this region in the world is to navigate. See page 11 SPECIAL FEATURE: MICE REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: EUROPE © Denis Barthel Cecilia Tee Managing Director, HelmsBriscoe it’s all about providing the experiential journey to delegates attending MICE. See page 14 Europe’s cultural diversity, unique landscapes and lifestyles continue to make it the most visited continent in the world. According to the UNWTO, the first half of 2019 has seen sustained growth at 4%, in line with the world average. Southern and Mediterranean Europe topped growth, up 6% y/y in the first half, down from 8% the previous year. This year’s show has a very rich offering from Europe. Read more from page 15. Golubac Fortress, Serbia
