Doha, QATAR - Qatar Airways will be taking part in Asia’s most important travel fair, the Japanese Association of Travel Agents’ World Tourism Congress and Travel Fair (JATA WTF 2004), being held in Tokyo from September 24-26, 2004.

Having already announced its plans to fly to Japan early next year, Qatar Airways is gearing up for the launch with a promotional drive. JATA WTF 2004 is widely recognised as Asia’s largest and leading travel market for the travel trade and consumers.

The fair attracts more than 100,000 visitors every year, including 30,000 trade and media representatives to its exhibition of more than 700 booths and stands.

Speaking ahead of the show where there will be a large Qatar Airways delegation, Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: ”The Japanese have a reputation of being one of the most avid travellers in the world.

“Participating in this important fair in Tokyo will give Qatar Airways the chance to promote its five star services, extensive route network and our country Qatar to the Japanese public.

“Just from the greater Tokyo metropolitan area alone, there are some nine million outbound travellers each year, so it is very important to raise the general awareness of Qatar Airways with this huge market.

“Qatar Airways has already announced plans to operate a regular service to Japan early next year, and it is imperative that we market our brand and services from an early stage. This high-profile travel fair will give us access to not only the travelling public, but also the media and the travel trade,” said Al Baker.

Qatar Airways will be taking its modern state-of-the-art 36sqm stand to the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre, locally called Tokyo Big Sight. The venue is Japan’s largest exhibition and convention centre with some 230,000sqm of floor space, located on the Waterfront sub centre of Tokyo.