Exciting business & leisure opportunities await at PATA travel mart 2006 in Hong Kong

With just two months to go before the Pacific Asia Travel Association Travel Mart 2006 (PTM06) takes place on 12-15 September, Hong Kong is pulling out all the stops to ensure that this leading travel contracting and networking show of Asia Pacific will be the best ever. As well as promoting the event worldwide, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is putting together a program of activities and tours so that delegates and their companions can enjoy an experience of a lifetime.

The PTM06 is one of several major events in 2006 Discover Hong Kong Year, a milestone year for Hong Kong's tourism industry. Drawing on the state-of-the-art facilities of AsiaWorld-Expo - one of the world's most modern exhibition venues - Hong Kong's proven organizational expertise, professional services, superb infrastructures and legendary hotels, the city aims to open up new horizons and maximize business opportunities for delegates. And with Hong Kong's strategic position as the gateway to China and the Pan-Pearl River Delta region, delegates will enjoy the unique opportunity of getting a closer view of this fastest-growing travel market in the world.

The PTM06 will not only showcase Hong Kong's strengths as a convention and exhibition destination, but also highlight the city's amazingly diverse attractions, which make it a perfect place to combine business with leisure. The HKTB is putting together an array of tours for both the delegates and their spouses. As well as featuring such new attractions as Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong Wetland Park and Ngong Ping 360, these tours will highlight the city's all-time favorites, such as Ocean Park, the revitalized Peak Tower, harbour cruise and the nightly multimedia show A Symphony of Lights. They will enable the overseas guests to gain fresh perspectives on Hong Kong, and insights into the city's deep-rooted culture and heritage, as well as hidden treasures.

The Board is also co-ordinating several post-mart cross-border tours to Macau, and to various provinces in the Pan-Pearl River Delta region that require no more than three hours of flying time from Hong Kong. The HKTB hopes that through these tours, delegates can experience for themselves the huge diversity of attractions and resources in these provinces, and be inspired to devise and promote more multi-destination itineraries anchored on Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's home carrier Cathay Pacific, along with a number of leading hotels, are putting together some very special packages for registered delegates. Together with the city's warm hospitality and year-round calendar of events, the PTM06 promises an unbeatable business platform and a memorable travel experience.