Hong Kong expo footfall ‘back to pre-pandemic levels’ but no sales boost
Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo draws 1.3 million visitors, but sales expected to remain flat at around HK$1 billion
Footfall at one of Hong Kong’s largest annual expos has returned to pre-pandemic levels, organisers have said, although sales are forecast to stagnate compared with previous fairs as shoppers spend more cautiously.
The 58th annual Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo, which ended its 24-day run in Victoria Park on Monday, drew about 1.3 million visitors, the same as last year and up by roughly 30 per cent from the 1 million recorded two years ago, the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong said.
“The expo fared well in both foot traffic and sales,” said Ivan Sze Wing-hang, the association’s vice-president. “I would describe the situation as back to pre-pandemic levels.”
The increase in visitor numbers was partly due to the resumption of the multi-entry visa scheme, direct partnerships with tour agencies in mainland China and promotional activities on social media, he said.
Mainland authorities resumed the scheme on December 1, allowing Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of trips to Hong Kong within a year, with each stay not exceeding seven days.
The fair remained busy on its final day, with thousands of visitors, most of whom were elderly, hunting for last-minute discounts as vendors tried to clear inventory before closing at 8pm.