Hong Kong’s Exhibition Industry Re-affirms its Leading Role as the Global Sourcing Platform
(Released on 20 June 2011) During its Annual General Meeting on 17 June, the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) announced positive results of its 2010 Exhibition Survey. The number of trade exhibitions, visitors, exhibiting companies and space taken all showed an increase, some with double digit percentage.
In 2010, over 648,000 visitors from outside of Hong Kong attended trade exhibitions, representing an increase of over 13% from 2009. This significant leap was fuelled by a strong comeback of international visitors by 18% to 214,000, surpassing the pre-financial crisis level. Visitors from the region increased by 13%, to 202,000. Mainland Chinese, numbering 232,000, represented an almost 10% increment from the previous year. At the same time, the number of local visitors to trade exhibitions jumped by 14% to over 1.2 million.
While the total number of exhibiting companies only showed a modest increment of 2% to 56,800, the increment of total space occupied, however, was a remarkable 10% to 872,000 sqm, signifying that many companies were taking larger booth areas than before. This was a clear demonstration of the confidence of exhibiting companies from worldwide to business potential presented by Hong Kong trade shows.
With Hong Kong’s close business ties with Mainland China, it is worth noting that the number of visitors from across the border, compared with those from international and regional, took up the largest proportion amongst visitors from outside of Hong Kong. Exhibiting companies from the Mainland, on the other hand, continued to increase to 20,000, a 5% increment from 2009, which is a higher than average percentage.
“We are very excited to report such encouraging growth figures in the HKECIA 2010 Exhibition Survey. While we are happy to see Mainland companies investing heavily in our shows, it is clear that Hong Kong remains an important global sourcing hub. Our international business partners have returned after a short lived dent, demonstrating time proven effectiveness of Hong Kong trade exhibitions as their business platform. With such positive indicators, the Association has full confidence that trade exhibitions in Hong Kong will continue to flourish and this reaffirms the city’s leading role in the industry,” commented HKECIA Chairman Mr Daniel Cheung.
Notes to editors:
| 1. | The HKECIA survey covered number of exhibiting companies, visitors and space occupied at major exhibitions of over 2,000 sqm held in Hong Kong from January to December 2010. |
| 2. | The HKECIA distributed the questionnaire to 47 organizing companies which ran 118 exhibitions in Hong Kong across the calendar year. Out of these 118 exhibitions, 94 were trade exhibitions while the remaining 24 were consumer shows. Figures stated in this media release are calculated from 89 completed questionnaires from trade exhibitions. |
| 3. | ‘Regional’ in the Survey refers to Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific, North Asia, South Asia and South East Asia. ‘International’ refers to Europe, The Americas, Africa and Middle East. |
| 4. | Attendance figures are counted in terms of number of visits, i.e. the same person attending exhibitions held concurrently at two different venues are counted as two visits. |
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 organizations, 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 programs, and collects, analyses and distributes information and statistics relating to the industry. Currently, HKECIA has members including exhibition organizers, venue managers and operators, contractors, hotels, and travel agents. HKECIA is a member of UFI, and Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
HKECIA Secretariat and Association Manager can be contacted at:
Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association
Gloucester Road PO Box 28346, Hong Kong
