Shifting global travel patterns on the back of economic challenges in Europe are delivering new opportunities for Asia.

Yet, at the same time, travellers from Asia  – and in particular those from Singapore – are more than ever heading in the opposite direction to take advantage of the sickly UK pound and the weak Euro, says Clement Wong, PhoCusWright director of research

Melissa Ow, assistant chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board (pictured left), speaking at the ITB Asia opening day media conference, said Asian countries no longer had to rely on European countries as source markets.

“In Singapore 70 percent of our visitors now come from within Asia,” she said.

Wong said that while Asia Pacific represents almost one-third of the global travel market, it currently accounts for only 21 percent of online revenue.

“Nevertheless, rising Internet access and purchasing would see the online travel market enjoying double-digit growth in 2012.The online market will grow twice as fast as the offline market,” he added.

UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said Asia is in the box seat to capture the lion’s share of 1.8 billion international tourists expected by 2030,

“This is definitely the place to be for businesses and destinations,” he said.

Raimund Hosch, CEO of ITB Asia organisers  Messe Berlin, said space at this year’s show was sold out four months in advance. And next year’s event would go to “another level”, he added.

Exhibitor space would increase by 20 percent to accommodate more than the 750 exhibitors from 70 countries represented at ITB Asia 2011.

Stickman aids children’s charity

Attendees at ITB Asia 2011 receive a smiling rubber figurine adorned in ITB’s distinctive orange hue. The little orange figure is known as the ITB Asia Stickman and marks ITB Asia’s social media project to do its bid for charity.

Messe Berlin (Singapore) initiated the scheme to raise funds for Operation Smile Singapore a volunteer, non-profit medical services organisation that provides reconstructive facial surgery to needy children and young people.

Delegates are encouraged to snap a picture with the ITB Asia Stickman in the different cities they travel to for leisure or business, and encouraged to upload their snapshots onto the ITB Asia Stickman photoblog or e-mail: [email protected]).

ITB Asia has pledged to donate US$10 for each of the first 250 photographs uploaded, to Operation Smile, The total sum raised will go towards funding approximately seven life-changing operations.

About 500 of the ITB Asia Stickman figure will be given away during ITB Asia 2011 from 19 to 21 October 2011.