ROME - Europe Asia Global Link Exhibitions (EAGLE), a recently established joint venture between Italian Exhibition Group, VNU Exhibitions Asia, and the European Tourism Association (ETOA), the leading Trade Association for Tour operators and Tourism suppliers, have signed an agreement to strengthen the international presence of their respective platforms.

 The partnership includes a set of promotional activities and special incentives for ETOA members to explore and increase business opportunities in the Chinese tourism market.    

 EAGLE, headquartered in Shanghai, is the organiser of two important tourism exhibitions held in China: Shanghai World Travel Fair, scheduled for May 24 to 27 (the 15th edition) and Travel Trade Market (TTM) which will make its debut for the first time between Sept 5 and 7 in Chengdu, Sichuan.  

 These two China based tourism events together with TTG TRAVEL EXPERIENCE, the main marketplace in Italy organised each October in Rimini by Italian Exhibition Group, create a global tourism network that facilitates communication within the world tourism industry.

 “We are thrilled to join forces with ETOA in order to build new platforms to shorten the distances for doing business in China and the Far East and give European tourism professionals a direct path to do business in these regions.” – said Mr. Corrado Facco, Managing Director of Italian Exhibition Group and Chairman of EAGLE.  

 Mr. David Zhong, President of VNU Exhibitions Asia and Vice Chairman of EAGLE added: “With over 10 million Chinese tourists visiting Europe each year and the increasing trend, these type of partnerships are crucial in today’s dynamic and fast changing environments.”

 “In particular, our newly launched exhibition in Chengdu, will give ETOA members the opportunity to tackle down the needs of Central and Western cities in China that show a continuously growing appetite for tourism services.”

 “ETOA is involved in such EU-funded projects as World Bridge Tourism and Partnerships in European Tourism,” said Mr. Tom Jenkins, CEO, ETOA.

 “These support tourism businesses wishing to expand their businesses into the Chinese market. We are happy to continue in this work facilitating business relationships between China and Europe. We hope this partnership will enable members to establish good contacts with the Chinese travel trade, and increase the amount of business in China and the Far East.” – said Mr. Tom Jenkins, CEO, ETOA.

 More than 500 international exhibitors and over 13,000 trade visitors and buyers, mainly from East parts of China, are expected to gather together at the 15th edition of Shanghai World Travel Fair. The show is a B2B and B2C format that focuses mainly on the growing demand for outbound tourism from China.

 Whereas, Travel Trade Market (TTM) will open its doors for the first time in Chengdu, Sichuan, as a pure B2B event that covers both inbound and outbound tourism sectors in China. It gives international exhibitors the opportunity to meet the most qualified tourism buyers of the second- and third-tier cities located in the Central and Western parts of China and at the same time puts together the Chinese destinations and inbound tourism operators with buyers from all over the world.

 For more information about the shows visit:

 Shanghai World Travel Fair: www.worldtravelfair.com.cn

 Travel Trade Market: www.ttmchina.com.cn