Chief executive of Hong Kong Tourism Board Clara Chong said the PATA Travel Mart will take place in the territory's new international exhibition center Asia World-Expo in September 2006.

Chong said she believed the new venue will attract more international business travelers to Hong Kong especially since China has joined the WTO.

The 70,000 sqm Hong Kong Asia World-Expo costing HK$2 billion (about a quarter of US$1 billion) is scheduled to open by December 2005.

Nicolas Borit, CEO of Asia World-Expo Management, said there are already twelve major international exhibitions for 2006 confirmed.

(CNTA.com June 3, 2004)