ID :
147091
Fri, 10/22/2010 - 14:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/147091
The shortlink copeid
MESSE BERLIN SEES `EXCELLENT POTENTIAL` FOR TOURISM TRAFFIC FROM ASEAN
By Manik Mehta
SINGAPORE, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- When Messe Berlin launched in 2008 its ITB Asia
fair in Singapore, convinced of the growing importance of the Asean region for
tourism traffic, many sceptics gave the event a couple of years, at the most,
before it folded.
This scepticism was further strengthened by the global economic crisis which
reached its peak in 2009 but the sceptics have been proven wrong.
Messe Berlin is not only happy with the result of its confidence but is also
convinced that the Asean region will further grow as a source of tourism and
offset the decline in traffic which many destinations are experiencing from
their traditional markets.
Indeed, Messe Berlin, organiser of the world's biggest tourism trade fair, has
extended its contract to stage ITB Asia for another three years until 2013 in
Singapore.
Malaysia is an important market for sourcing traffic, according to Messe
Berlin's president and chief executive offer Raimund Hosch, rated as one of the
world's leading experts on tourism.
"Because of its proximity to Malaysia and being a neutral hub with excellent air
connectivity to the leading centres of the world, Singapore was selected as the
venue for holding ITB Asia," Hosch said in an interview with Bernama.
ITB Asia attracts large contingents of Asean exhibitors, including Malaysia, who
have been bagging good business in the past.
But there are also European, Australian and North American exhibitors who
showcase their products with a view to court tourism from the prospering Asian
countries whose nationals are now undertaking long-haul travel.
"India, China and Asean are the growth markets of the present and the future,"
Hosch asserted.
Besides becoming important sources of tourism traffic, the Asean countries are
also interesting destinations.
Giving an overview of the idiosyncrasies of the individual Asean countries, he
counted Singapore, Thailand, Bali (though not the entire Indonesia) and Malaysia
as the major destinations.
While business travel was the mainstay of tourism to Singapore, with MICE
(meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) being a key segment, traffic
to Thailand and Bali was characterised by leisure tourism.
Malaysia, with its beautiful sandy beaches and lush-green tropical forests, was
also an attractive destination whose infrastructure exuded appeal to the foreign
corporate sector.
"We note that Malaysia has been making investments to bolster its tourism
industry," Hosch said.
"We also see ITB Asia providing a major platform for those interested in MICE
and business travel. Malaysia should take advantage of it," he said.
Data provided by Messe Berlin suggested that the percentage of MICE-related
travel buyers at ITB Asia this year increased from 32 to 43 per cent.
While it is true that the economic slowdown and the uncertainties associated
with it had dissuaded many travellers from going abroad, he advised Asean
countries to position themselves when economic recovery took place and tourism
traffic was revived.
He cited the example of German tourists -- Germans are considered to be "world
champions" in tourism -- who still love to travel though much of the long-haul
travel is done for business reasons.
"But even if German business people undertake work-related travel, they tend to
later visit the same destination for leisure purpose to make up for not seeing
that destination properly. They do notice on their business travels that there
are places to relax and enjoy such as beaches, wellness centres, sports, and
entertainment," he argued.
While he lauded the tourism promotion efforts of the Asean countries, Hosch also
felt that they would have to expand their infrastructure in order to meet the
challenges that growing traffic and distribution of goods and services would
pose in the future.
"I am happy that many Asean countries are upgrading or expanding their mass
rapid transport (MRT) system to relieve congestion and gridlock situations
caused by excessive traffic you see in a number of big cities. The
infrastructure has to be improved all the time because of the demands of growing
population, trade and traffic," he said.
-- BERNAMA
SINGAPORE, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- When Messe Berlin launched in 2008 its ITB Asia
fair in Singapore, convinced of the growing importance of the Asean region for
tourism traffic, many sceptics gave the event a couple of years, at the most,
before it folded.
This scepticism was further strengthened by the global economic crisis which
reached its peak in 2009 but the sceptics have been proven wrong.
Messe Berlin is not only happy with the result of its confidence but is also
convinced that the Asean region will further grow as a source of tourism and
offset the decline in traffic which many destinations are experiencing from
their traditional markets.
Indeed, Messe Berlin, organiser of the world's biggest tourism trade fair, has
extended its contract to stage ITB Asia for another three years until 2013 in
Singapore.
Malaysia is an important market for sourcing traffic, according to Messe
Berlin's president and chief executive offer Raimund Hosch, rated as one of the
world's leading experts on tourism.
"Because of its proximity to Malaysia and being a neutral hub with excellent air
connectivity to the leading centres of the world, Singapore was selected as the
venue for holding ITB Asia," Hosch said in an interview with Bernama.
ITB Asia attracts large contingents of Asean exhibitors, including Malaysia, who
have been bagging good business in the past.
But there are also European, Australian and North American exhibitors who
showcase their products with a view to court tourism from the prospering Asian
countries whose nationals are now undertaking long-haul travel.
"India, China and Asean are the growth markets of the present and the future,"
Hosch asserted.
Besides becoming important sources of tourism traffic, the Asean countries are
also interesting destinations.
Giving an overview of the idiosyncrasies of the individual Asean countries, he
counted Singapore, Thailand, Bali (though not the entire Indonesia) and Malaysia
as the major destinations.
While business travel was the mainstay of tourism to Singapore, with MICE
(meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) being a key segment, traffic
to Thailand and Bali was characterised by leisure tourism.
Malaysia, with its beautiful sandy beaches and lush-green tropical forests, was
also an attractive destination whose infrastructure exuded appeal to the foreign
corporate sector.
"We note that Malaysia has been making investments to bolster its tourism
industry," Hosch said.
"We also see ITB Asia providing a major platform for those interested in MICE
and business travel. Malaysia should take advantage of it," he said.
Data provided by Messe Berlin suggested that the percentage of MICE-related
travel buyers at ITB Asia this year increased from 32 to 43 per cent.
While it is true that the economic slowdown and the uncertainties associated
with it had dissuaded many travellers from going abroad, he advised Asean
countries to position themselves when economic recovery took place and tourism
traffic was revived.
He cited the example of German tourists -- Germans are considered to be "world
champions" in tourism -- who still love to travel though much of the long-haul
travel is done for business reasons.
"But even if German business people undertake work-related travel, they tend to
later visit the same destination for leisure purpose to make up for not seeing
that destination properly. They do notice on their business travels that there
are places to relax and enjoy such as beaches, wellness centres, sports, and
entertainment," he argued.
While he lauded the tourism promotion efforts of the Asean countries, Hosch also
felt that they would have to expand their infrastructure in order to meet the
challenges that growing traffic and distribution of goods and services would
pose in the future.
"I am happy that many Asean countries are upgrading or expanding their mass
rapid transport (MRT) system to relieve congestion and gridlock situations
caused by excessive traffic you see in a number of big cities. The
infrastructure has to be improved all the time because of the demands of growing
population, trade and traffic," he said.
-- BERNAMA
