The opening ceremony of The 25th International Travel Expo in Hong Kong on Thursday, June 9, 2011. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

The 25th International Travel Expo Hong Kong kicked off Thursday (June 9) with more than 600 exhibitors.

The participants this year come from a record 56 countries and regions. Up almost 20% they're from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions and the Middle East. Some 80% of the exhibitors are from outside Hong Kong and around half of the exhibiting countries from outside Asia.

According to organizers, the four-day event occupies some 15,000 square meters in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The first two days are for Trade only. The Public will be welcomed on June 11 and 12.

There are 10 new official participants' pavilions this year, from Bhutan, Brazil, Cuba, Hungary, Mexico, Moscow, Nepal, Seychelles, Tunisia and South Africa. For the first time the four European countries, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, will have a substantially bigger joint stand.

Among the returning official pavilions are the larger ones from Asia include the Chinese mainland, Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand. While those from beyond include Egypt, Greece, Turkey and Yemen.