Following Hong Kong topping the charts in The Economist magazine’s ‘Global Normalcy Index’, the Hong Kong Book Fair, the city’s largest annual fair, returned this July with more than 830,000 visits recorded, about 85% of the pre-pandemic levels.
Benjamin Chau, deputy executive director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), said: “The gradual recovery of the local economy will lead to the return of more physical public shows, and the HKTDC is preparing to stage more exhibitions to give a further boost to the recovery.”
Boosted by the momentum of the physical event scene in the second quarter, over 30 exhibitions have been scheduled in Q3, almost double the number of exhibitions in Q2.
The events set to return in Q3 includes the 2021 Hong Kong Brands & Products Shopping Festival and the Puppy Summer Fun Expo in August, both debuting at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE).
Irene Chan, CEO of AWE said: “AWE is excited about the return of some of the city’s largest events starting in August and we are well-prepared with the latest hygiene enhancement and facilities upgrade to welcome everyone with top-notch experiences.”
In a HK$600m (US$77.4m) refurbishment, AWE has equipped its venue with hardware upgrades. These include enhanced technology and connectivity to be the first in Hong Kong’s MICE industry to offer Wi-Fi 6, a new movable hybrid meeting Mobile Studio, and an advanced ozone disinfection system.
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), which has again been hosting exhibitions and conferences since January 2021, has also created a high-tech space, Harbour Studio, for staging online programmes against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.
