Hong Kong trade show organiser urges government to focus funding on international events
Duncan Cheung, director of a major trade exhibition firm, says such events can attract business travellers and bolster the tourism sector
The organiser of one of Hong Kong’s largest trade shows has called on authorities to prioritise funding for international events, citing their potential to attract business travellers and bolster the tourism sector.
Duncan Cheung Shui-kwai, ComAsia Limited’s director, also said on Monday the city’s exhibition and trade show industry was still struggling following the pandemic due to reasons such as geopolitical tensions and the lack of long-haul flights.
He added that the Middle East would not be able to replace traditional European and North American markets.
ComAsia, a major trade exhibition company, had founded and organised for the past three decades Hong Kong’s annual Mega Show, a sourcing show for made-in-Asia products every October.
“We hope the government can allocate the HK$500 million (US$64 million) more effectively, focusing on international exhibitions that truly benefit Hong Kong’s economy,” Cheung said.
He was referring to the “Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions”, a government subsidy for exhibition organisers holding multiple editions of the same event, in an attempt to revitalise Hong Kong’s meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry following the pandemic.