The Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) has released the latest in its series of annual surveys of the exhibition activities in Hong Kong.
The results show continued growth in the region, reaffirming Hong Kong’s position as the trade fair capital of Asia.
Key indicators of the survey, such as the number of exhibiting companies and the number of exhibition visitors, show encouraging growth year-on-year of 5.2% and 11.8% respectively. They also show that in 2017, Hong Kong hosted a total of 135 exhibitions, occupying at least 2,000sqm of gross floor area. From an economic perspective, total approximate stand revenues rose by almost 12% for the year to HK $3.8bn.
Chairman of the HKECIA Stuart Bailey commented: “The sign of a robust industry is that it is prepared for difficult times as well as good ones. With the Hong Kong exhibition industry on the precipice of change, now is the time for all our industry partners to come together and prepare for the challenges we know we will face in the coming years. We must have a strategy that clearly recognises the new future ahead.”
The HKECIA was established in 1990 to promote Hong Kong as a world-class exhibition and conference destination. It provides a unified voice in dealing with the government, legislative bodies and public organisations, as well as offering training, analyses and statistics relating to the industry.
Bailey is confident that Hong Kong’s skills and achievements give it capabilities that its competitors cannot match:
“The latest survey shows our significant advantages and reinforces how much status Hong Kong has internationally as an exhibition destination.
“Now it is time to see how we can build on this to tap into the changes ahead. In particular, we view the Greater Bay Area as a huge opportunity. It is essential that we work closely with our government and mainland partners to ensure that Hong Kong’s role as a key MICE hub is fully understood and recognised. This will help us maintain the momentum we have built up over many years.”
