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PATA Travel Mart 2002, opened
today in Singapore, celebrating its 25th anniversary.
What has, over its quarter century
history, been described and regarded as the leading travel
trade show for the Asia Pacific markets, opened with strong
yet conflicting figures.
On a positive note, the number of
corporate buyers has increased by an impressive 60%, over 2001
data, to 186 buyers, while the leisure and MICE buyers have
fallen by 15%, to 218. Net floor space occupied this year has
also dropped by 15% to 2,000 sqm.
With new event management software
in place, many of the sellers we spoke to were very happy with
their appointment schedule and also the high quality of buyers
available, with many praising the improvements this new
technology has delivered over previous years.
Unfortunately however, this will
not be enough for the PATA Travel Mart to re-establish itself
as a "must attend" show for the Asia Pacific
markets, questions need to be asked, and the whole basics of
the show revised to meet the demands of today's much changed
industry needs.
It is just these delving questions
which are going to be examined in every detail by a specially
set up task force. PATA President and CEO, Mr. Peter de Jong
said that in order to sustain PATA Travel Mart as the premier
travel trade event for Pacific Asia, it would be necessary to
"retool" the Mart to come up with a winning formula
which would "reinvent" the Mart and give it a
"must-attend reputation."
PATA Travel Mart was one of the
first shows to rotate venues from one country to another each
year, giving buyers and sellers a chance to experience first
hand, different destinations. In 1997 it changed this format,
by moving to a single venue, Singapore, expecting to stay
there for 10 years. Now in its fifth year in Singapore, the
special task force will be looking at each and every detail of
the show dynamics, which among many other details, includes
its dates, and the possibility of changing venue.
The news of a special task force
working on revisions to the show will be welcomed by the
industry who are looking for a regional show that leads the
way with innovative ideas and business prospects. PATA Travel
Mart is in a perfect position to fill that need, and regain
its position as a 'must attend' event. |
