Visitor numbers up in Hong Kong

The International Hardware & Home Improvement Fair opened its doors for business for the sixth time at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 24 to 26 October. The organisers registered 131 exhibitors from ten countries at this year’s event, whereas a total of 155 exhibitors presented their palette of products and services last year. Particularly down was the number of companies from the Chinese mainland (- 40 per cent) and from Taiwan (- 22 per cent). The fair is still a purely Asian event as regards the exhibitor side. Represented there were no more than two firms from Europe and one from the USA.
On the visitor side quite another trend became apparent. During the three days of the fair an overall total of 3 734 trade visitors was recorded, or three per cent more than last year. From the USA came 159 company representatives (55 last year), from Canada 61 (39) and from the United Kingdom 49 (29). The biggest contingent consisted of trade visitors from mainland China (396) and from Taiwan (70). The overall interest shown by Europe has increased: the number of visitors at 281 was double last year’s figure.
The stands of the 131 exhibitors offered a very uniform picture in terms of size.
Displayed over a gross exhibition space of 4 500 m2 were building materials, bathroom fittings, hardware and home improvement products, plus DIY, garden and electrical ranges. Where size was concerned, the stands offered a pretty uniform picture, since around 95 per cent of the exhibitors had decided in favour of the 9 m² option.
The 2003 fair will gain in attraction for visitors through holding the Lighting Fair in parallel.
Next year, in an attempt to revitalise the show and increase its attraction for visitors, the fair will be held in association with the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair, which expects the presence of 400 exhibitors. The dates for the event are 27 to 30 October 2003.