China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market (18-20-April)

COTTM (China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market) is the only dedicated business-to-business outbound travel and tourism exhibition in China. The exhibition provides a platform for international tourism boards and travel services to meet with China’s key outbound tour operators.

A combination of China’s fast-emerging middle class, improved transport links and more favourable policies are all contributing to the boom of outbound tourism. The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) has estimated that the total number of outbound tourists from China will reach 100 million by 2020.

According to the WTO: “The top ten ranking by international tourism spenders shows one remarkable change in 2010, with China (US$ 55 billion) moving up into third position, overtaking the United Kingdom (US$ 49 billion). China has shown by far the fastest growth with regard to expenditure on international tourism in the last decade, multiplying expenditure four times since 2000. Ranking as the seventh biggest source market in 2005, it has since overtaken, respectively, Italy, Japan, France and the United Kingdom.”*

Moreover authorities in Beijing recently granted licenses to three foreign companies to organise tours for outbound Chinese tourists. TUI is the first European tour operator, CITS American Express Travel Services for the US and JTB New Century International Tours for Japan. The move is seen as key to opening up the country’s lucrative outbound market.

Entering its 8th year, COTTM is a well established exhibition and has the undisputed reputation of being China’s leading business-to-business outbound travel show. This coupled with the success of the 2011 edition makes COTTM a well-recognized and respected brand name.

Source - cottm