CHICAGO –A negative test is no longer required to enter restaurants, concert halls and other attractions, and people can travel more freely within the country. The easing of protocols comes after three years of lockdowns, forced quarantines and strict COVID regulations.
Additionally, Hong Kong will no longer restrict the movement of overseas arrivals or the use of risk-measuring apps to enter public places in the most significant easing of its COVID protocols since the start of the pandemic. There is no longer a need to use Hong Kong’s Leave Home Safe tracking app and capacity restrictions have been lifted.
The city announced that four trade shows will return in 2023: Jewelry & Gem World, Jewelry & Gem Asia, Cosmoprof Asia and Asia Fruit Logistica.
It is expected that before the Lunar New Year on January 22, 2023, travelers to mainland China will no longer be required to undergo a five-day quarantine. They will now have to undergo a three-day medical monitoring only.
“The decisions were made based on data and risks,” Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee told a news conference. “The risk of infection from imported cases is lower than that from local infections. We believe that lifting the measures will not increase the risk of local outbreaks.”
The trade show industry is cautiously optimistic about the news. “What worries me is the easing of restrictions before Chinese New Year. The question is, are we setting ourselves up for a perfect storm,” said Patty Olinger, executive director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC). “The rate of recalls globally is low, which is a concern for both the CDC and WHO.”
Olinger recommends that trade show organizers remain vigilant and follow all health and safety precautions put in place during the height of the pandemic. These include getting vaccinated and vaccinated, wearing a mask, keeping your distance, ensuring indoor air ventilation, washing your hands, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, paying attention to indoor air quality and getting tested.
“People need to be aware that COVID, flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses exist, and it is in everyone’s best interest to pay attention to them and stay up to date on vaccinations and boosters,” Olinger said.
But the industry has proven that it is possible to safely bring together attendees and exhibitors. “We have proven that it is possible to have a successful and safe trade show in the middle of a pandemic,” Olinger said. “We have guidelines in place that must be followed.”
China Continues to Ease COVID-19 Restrictions, Bringing Optimism for an Uncertain Year for Trade Shows
Trade shows are back
Mark Cochrane, UFI Asia/Pacific Regional Director and BSG Managing Director, is optimistic about the prospects for exhibition markets in Hong Kong and mainland China.
“Domestic events are now given the green light to go ahead and business activities are expected to resume as normal by March or April, which is the peak trade show season in China, with events like the Canton Fair and so on. The Guangzhou International Motor Show, one of China’s largest auto shows, will be held later this month, from December 30 to January 8,” Mr Cochrane said.
There are still many unknowns, such as when international visitors will be able to enter China easily and freely, and when Chinese exhibitors and visitors from abroad will return in force to trade shows around the world. “At least we can all agree that recent developments are a big step in the right direction,” Cochrane added.
As for Hong Kong, the trade fair sector relies heavily on the participation of international exhibitors and visitors. The Hong Kong government has removed most COVID measures limiting international participation. Hotel quarantines have been eliminated. The tracking app is no longer required. International visitors must take a PCR test upon arrival and another test on the second day of their stay in the city, but the second test will likely be dropped soon.
“In 2023, we expect business to gradually return to normal, with nine expos scheduled from March to May,” said Diane Chen, general manager and board member of Shenyang New World Expo.
At UFI Connects, a webinar focusing on current events in China, Monica Lee Müller, Managing Director of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, shared information on the subsidies offered to revive trade shows. She said that more than HK$1.4 billion was available to attract international exhibitions to Hong Kong until mid-2026, including free rental of premises for any exhibition.
Chen said similar grants were available in Shenyang.
Michael Kruppe, general manager of Shanghai New International Expo Centre Co., Ltd., said organizers are calling on him to compete for slots in 2023. “That gives me a pretty good idea of what we can expect,” Kruppe said.
To watch the UFI Connections session, “The Impact of Changing COVID Restrictions in China on Business Events,” visit https://www.ufi.org/news-media/ufi-connects/
Contact Mark Cochrane at +852 2525 6120 or [email protected]; Patty Olinger at (847) 982-0800 or [email protected]; Diane Chen at (86 24) 3161 9898 or [email protected]; Monica Lee-Müller at [email protected]; Michael Kruppe at [email protected]
