HKECIA welcomes the Government’s Southbound Travel Scheme
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Hong Kong, 3 July 2025) The Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) welcomes the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the HKSAR Government’s announcement to launch the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (the Southbound Travel Scheme) later this year, which will allow private cars from Guangdong to enter Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-ZhuhaiMacao Bridge (HZMB), thereby enhancing the flow of community and trade visitors among the cities within the Greater Bay Area.
Representing over 100 company members, the HKECIA is delighted to learn that the Southbound Travel Scheme, with the strong support of the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong, will be rolled out in an orderly manner later this year.
Chairman of the HKECIA Mr Stuart Bailey said, “As the HKECIA’s latest annual survey shows, the number of visitors from the Mainland to “Trade” and “Trade and Consumer” exhibitions in 2024 showed the best recovery pace among all categories, growing by 21% from 2023. We are confident that our industry and Hong Kong economy as a whole will benefit from this new option for Guangdong
travelers to visit Hong Kong.”
“Exhibitions are pivotal to driving the growth of supporting industries such as hotel, food and beverage, retail, entertainment, design and advertising, legal and other professional services. We look forward to the implementation of this initiative together with well-planned supporting measures later this year as a new option to facilitate the ease of travel of the Mainland visitors and hence to bring even more overnight high-spending Mainland visitors to the many events staged by our members,” said Mr Bailey.
About the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association
The Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) was established in 1990 to promote Hong Kong as a world-class exhibition and conference destination and the trade fair capital of Asia Pacific. It works to represent the interests of all members involved in the exhibition and convention industries, and provides a unified voice in dealing with the government, legislative and statutory bodies, the media and public organisations, on all matters associate with the role of the exhibition and convention industry in Hong Kong’s economy. In addition, it offers training and educational programmes, and collects, analyses and distributes information and statistics relating to the industry. Currently, HKECIA has 100 members including exhibition organisers, venue managers and operators, contractors, hotels, and travel agents.
The HKECIA is a member of UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, and AFECA – The Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations.
For further enquiries, please contact:
Ms Melissa Law
Association Manager
Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association
Tel: (852) 2558 1238
Fax: (852) 2558 3074
E-mail: enquiry@exhibitions.org.hk
Website: www.exhibitions.org.hk
