COTTM is the only business-to-business show in China dedicated to the China outbound travel and tourism industry.
Last year’s event was opened by Xue Ya Ping, of China National Tourism Administration, and saw 200 exhibitors from more than 50 countries showcasing their products to a high number of Chinese hosted buyers COTTM is supported by a wide range of trade associations such as the National Tour Association, the Pacific Asia Travel Association and the European Tour Operators Association, as well as numerous Chinese and international media partners.
Exhibitors included Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Dubai, Egypt, Ethiopia, Hungary, India, Macau, Mexico, Mozambique, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Slovakia, Thailand and Tunisia to name a few.
A new edition to the 2009 show was a COTTM top tour operators debate, in which representatives from several top tour companies took part.
The session focused on how to face economic challenges and was attended by more than 150 people.
Zhang Xiangming, general manager of Beijing Jiedajiaqi International Travel Service said COTTM created an excellent platform for Chinese tour operators and travel agencies to meet outbound travel and tourism products suppliers from all over the world.
With a reported 18.6 per cent increase in outbound travel in 2008, the number of Chinese people travelling abroad is growing at an unprecedented rate.
Wolfgang Arlt, director of the German-based China Outbound Tourism Research Institute said: “With more than 50 million Chinese expected to travel across the border in 2009, this is a market which is no longer ignored.
“China is already the biggest tourist source market in Asia and Chinese tourists are now the fifth biggest spenders in international tourism.
“COTTM provides a valuable platform to find local agents and establish new business contacts and is not to be missed!”
Now in its sixth year, COTTM 2010 will take place at the China World Trade Centre, Beijing from April 28 to 30 and will have a strong focus on education as well as offering high-profile speaker events.