As the growth of the China outbound market starts to soar, World Travel Market’s ChinaContact forum will examine whether the industry is prepared for what is expected to be a major new business opportunity. The World Travel Market ChinaContact forum - the  only one of its kind outside of China - aims to help businesses cash in on what will be the largest source market and top tourist destination by 2020. Over the next 12 years this is expected to grow at more than 10%.

The one-day conference, ‘China – the Future of Travel in 2007’ will be held at ExCeL London during World Travel Market on Wednesday 14 November, supported by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), VisitBritain, Visit London, the China-Britain Business Council and UKinbound.

“ChinaContact has launched the first global tourism survey on China’s outbound market”, said conference organiser Roy Graff, Managing Director of specialist agency ChinaContact, “which aims to find out just how global tourism professionals are treating the growth of tourism from China.”

“We need to pose these vital questions: Are they prepared for this new market? Have they created a sales and marketing strategy to tap this resource? By looking at what companies are doing or intending to do in relation to the Chinese outbound market, we can open a discussion on whether the industry is making the necessary preparations, and what type of marketing activities are working in the market.”

“It does not matter if you have had experience with Chinese tourists or not, the point is thinking about what this market will mean to your business or destination in the long term.”

ChinaContact is offering incentives to complete the survey - they are giving away free copies of the China Outbound Tourism Handbook and a chance to win ten free consultation hours. The results of the survey will be announced at the WTM ChinaContact forum and shared with all survey entrants.

PATA`s President and CEO, Peter de Jong will give the opening conference speech on ‘The Face of China Tourism: Driving Change’. His comments will provide a macro view of China`s travel and tourism sector and how it is changing the industry daily. The presentation will outline the immense changes that have taken place in the Asia Pacific region as a result of the growth of the Chinese tourism sector.

“China`s outbound tourism growth has had a tremendous impact on the Asia Pacific region and Mr de Jong’s presence will have a significant impact on the conference”, said Graff.

“There are lessons to be learned by European and American destinations from the way Asia has managed the Chinese market. PATA`s extensive network in the region and research data can help us learn these lessons.”

The opening session speakers also include Professor Wolfgang Arlt, head of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute in Germany, who will unveil the newly released quality label for welcoming Chinese visitors and explain why quality differentiation is becoming increasingly important; Rosita Yiu, Vice President in charge of Accor Hotels` Asian sales; and Olivier Dombey, Regional Vice President Asia Pacific of Pegasus Solutions.