The International Jewellery Show at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Photo Credit: HKCEC
Asia has always been a strong player on the international meetings
and events circuit – and there are signs the region’s post-pandemic
recovery is gathering pace.
China reopened its borders to international visitors last month,
giving a huge boost to the region’s meetings and events industry, which
was effectively locked down for two years.
Long
after European countries and North America lifted their travel bans,
countries in Asia remained closed to visitors, with restrictions in most
countries only eased in spring 2022.
But it would seem the continent’s cautious approach has not caused lasting damage to business.
Earlier this month more than 200 delegates were at the Kuala Lumpur
Convention Centre (KLCC) for the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference, which
returned to the region after a four-year hiatus.
It was just one of 52 events and exhibitions scheduled to take place
at the iconic venue this year, which managers hope will attract at least
160,000 international visitors.
KLCC general manager John Burke said: “With the whole of Asia fully
open for business now, we anticipate accelerated activities and
movements that will reinvigorate trade and economy, in Malaysia,
regionally and globally.”
Kai Hattendorf, UFI’s managing director/CEO, said: “Finally, we could
re-united the exhibition industry community from the whole Asia-Pacific
region again and face to face. The optimism and energy everyone felt
during the two days of the conference show that our industry is not only
recovering, but it will go beyond where we have been before the
pandemic disruption.”
Hong Kong has more than 100 international meetings and events
scheduled this year. Some of the events will be held in the city for the
first time, with others returning after the pandemic.
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre celebrated a full house
for the first time since the pandemic earlier this month, when an
international jewellery exhibition attracted over 2,500 exhibiting
companies from 36 countries and regions - with half of them from
overseas - and over 60,000 buyers from 130 countries and regions.
Managing director Monica Lee-Müller said: “Since the reopening of
borders with overseas destinations and the mainland, HKCEC has seen a
surge in booking enquiries from both overseas as well as local
exhibition and convention organisers.”
Source: AMI