AFRICAN TOURISM LINKS UP WITH CHINA AT COTTM 2007

COTTM (The China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market), the only business-to-business event dedicated to outbound travel and tourism in China, is this year welcoming a significant number of exhibitors from Africa. The international travel trade show is taking place at the China World Trade Center (CWTC) in Beijing from 14-16 May 2007. With 26 African countries granted ADS status and further nations expected to receive agreements, the show provides the ideal forum for travel organisations to meet industry colleagues, exchange new ideas, hear advice from experts and establish international business partnerships.

The growing presence of African countries at this year's COTTM comes at a time when President Hu Jintao conducted a 12-day tour of Africa this month aimed at strengthening economic and political ties with China. According to recent reports, during this year's Spring Festival the number of tourists visiting Africa has increased by 30%-40% compared with last year. A distinctive trend is emerging of African travel agencies going to China to set up new international partnerships with COTTM providing the ideal platform for this.

A range of African organisations from tourism authorities and travel agencies to safari organisers and hotel groups from Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe will be busy making their preparations for the COTTM show over the next few months.

Matt Thompson, Project Director for COTTM, said: "We're delighted to welcome our colleagues from the African travel trade to COTTM. It's an exciting time with the likelihood of further ADS agreements for African countries coming up. As Asia's largest outbound tourism market, China presents a vast business potential for the African and international travel trade. The effects of these strengthening links are already very visible with the recent introduction of direct flights connecting Nairobi with Hong Kong and Guangzhou."

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