Editorial | Steady revival of Hong Kong shown by exhibitions
- Expos that moved to Dubai and Singapore have returned to city after a hiatus driven by pandemic controls
- The events calendar is filling back up, but more work needed to reach pre-pandemic levels
That Hong Kong is still lagging behind on many fronts after the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic is a reality to be reckoned with. Thankfully, there have been growing signs of a steady recovery, the latest being a packed calendar of international exhibitions and conferences over the year.
While hopes are high that industries will eventually return to pre-Covid levels, the city must go beyond just playing catch-up and explore new opportunities and growth in an increasingly competitive global environment.
It is a relief to learn that the city has recovered some lost ground since reopening early last year, hosting 61 exhibitions in the second half of 2023. In another encouraging move, no fewer than 160 exhibitions and 150 convention meetings have been scheduled at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai and AsiaWorld-Expo near the airport this year.
While some brands have moved elsewhere as a result of the city’s once stringent health controls and the slow pace of opening up, others are returning. This includes the APLF Leather Show that had gone to Dubai, and the Vinexpo Asia, which is set to open in May following a stint in Singapore.
There also are newcomers, such as the world’s largest Korean cultural convention KCON, US street culture festival ComplexCon and the first transport and logistics Super Terminal Expo. The shows and meetings will complement the already scheduled mega events and enhance the city’s international profile.
