Asia is known for its cuisine, traditions and culture – and you’ll find plenty in the way of food, dancing and all-round friendly hospitality at this year’s show.
Start as you mean to go on with a dose of culture and heritage at the Sri Lanka stand (AS5200), where the Sri Lanka Tourist Board is building a replica of the entrance to a Buddhist temple. Agents can sip traditional green tea and pick up a free gift.
Tourist board director Jean-Marc Flambert said: “Sri Lanka has the highest density of leopard and we have five UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as great beaches.”
There is an open invitation to join the stand on November 6 (Monday) at 5.30pm for a drink before proceeding to the World Stage where the tourist board will say: “Bo-ho-masthu-thi” – a thank you to the trade hosted by the Minister for Tourism and chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.
The Singapore Tourism Board (AS7300) has recently added a fifth module to its online training programme – find out more and get a sneak preview of some of the destination’s new product. Tiger Beer will sponsor drinks on the stand at the end of the show’s first day.
The usual crop of Korea (AS3100) ground agents and partner airlines (Korean Air and Asiana Airlines) will be on hand at the KNTO stand where regular food demonstrations using Korean agricultural products will be taking place. “We will also be making traditional green and ginseng Korean teas and encouraging visitors to try Korean ‘Shingo’ pear,” said a spokesperson.
Move along a few stands to AS6050 where five indigenous Taiwanese aboriginal dancers will perform to traditional music at the Taiwan Tourism Bureau stand where you can find out about the 80th anniversary plans for the National Palace Museum in Taipei and a new high-speed train link from Taipei to Kaohsiung opening in November.
Skip sandwiches and instead drop in to theJapanstand (AS2200) to learn more about the destination over sushi and sake. Sushi will be freshly prepared on site by expert sushi chefs from London’s popular Japan Centre Yoshino sushi bar and while enjoying the traditional refreshments you can meet JNTO staff, hoteliers, ground handlers and airline representatives. Agents can also have their name written in kanji characters in brush and ink on to a souvenir bookmark by a Japanese calligraphy expert.
In need of a quick pick-me-up? Along with Thailand’s (AS7600) popular on-stand Spa Sala, where visitors can pop in for a free Thai massage, new additions this year will include a Travel Agent Reception Desk on November 8 and 9. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s deputy governor will be attending and on the Thursday TAT is teaming up with Reed Exhibitions as part of a Wise Up! initiative to train MyTravel staff.
On the Philippines stand (AS2000) there’ll be more cultural performances, this time featuring one of the islands’ most renowned dance troupes, the Bayanihan troupe, who’ll be performing every 90 minutes. Ask the Philippines Department of Tourism about cocktails and karaoke and imagine yourself on a beautiful beach in Boracay.
Fastfact desk mats, travel manuals, posters, T-shirts, pens, chopsticks, heritage prints and coasters are all up for grabs on the Macau (AS3300)stand, and if you’re still standing, there’ll be drinks at 4pm on November 7.
