This is hardly a surprise: whether they are exhibitors or buyers, more and more Chinese are attending major international trade fairs. Nor is it a surprise that the main beneficiary of this new flow of business travellers from mainland China is the Hong Kong 'Special Administrative Region'.
In a report published in mid-July, the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) noted an increase of 18 % in the number of visitors from outside the country to the main events held in Hong Kong in 2007, with an increase of 47 % in visitors from mainland China compared to 2006. For the same year, the HKECIA also reported an increase of 12 % in the number of exhibiting companies from mainland China. These results - and above all the prospects - justify the massive investment made by the Hong Kong authorities. At the beginning of the year, the Secretary of State for Finance announced an additional budget of 150 million Hong Kong dollars, spread over five years, to promote Hong Kong's strengths in business tourism on foreign markets. This should ensure several more years of double-digit growth.
