HONG KONG’s exhibition sector is bouncing back with momentum, according to the latest annual survey released by the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) – but business leaders say they will need a special government support scheme to be continued as global trade uncertainty mounts.
The report, which covers the calendar year 2024, paints a picture of steady recovery and cautious optimism in the post-pandemic landscape with tariff tensions expected to hit trade volumes. The city hosted 121 large-scale exhibitions – defined as those occupying more than 2,000 square metres of floor space. Of these, 80 were classified as “trade” or “trade and consumer” exhibitions, marking a 9.6 per cent increase compared to 2023.
HKECIA chairman Stuart Bailey said this increase underscored the sector’s ongoing rebound, with the number of such exhibitions rising from 73 the previous year.
Attendance figures also climbed. The number of exhibiting companies operating in Hong Kong surged by 13.9 per cent, growing from over 45,000 to nearly 52,000. Exhibition visitor numbers followed suit, increasing by 4.5 per cent to surpass 1.46 million. However, not all metrics were positive – exhibitor space rented fell by 6.8 per cent to just under 830,000 square metres, suggesting a more cautious approach to spending.
“The past year has seen both achievements and challenges for our industry,” said Bailey said. “The growth in exhibiting companies and visitors in 2024 reflects the resilience of Hong Kong’s exhibition industry and the effectiveness of proactive and aggressive exhibitor and visitor recruitment in the face of a difficult economic outlook.
“Despite the progress made, challenges remain. The decline in exhibitor space rented was a sign that companies scaled back spending due to global economic uncertainty.”
SURVEY SNAPSHOT
Total Large-Scale Exhibitions:
121 (same as pre-Covid levels)B2B + Consumer Exhibitions:
80 (up 9.6 per cent from 2023)Exhibitor Space Rented:
830,000 sqm (down 6.8 per cent)Compared to pre-Covid:
– Exhibiting companies: down 25.1 per cent
– Visitors: down 21.3 per centGovernment Support:
ISRE 2.0 launching July 2025, expanding funding to new venues
While the total number of exhibitions has returned to pre-pandemic levels, participation still lags behind 2019 figures. Exhibiting companies and visitor numbers are down by 25.1 per cent and 21.3 per cent, respectively, compared to the pre-Covid benchmark.
One bright spot in the data is the surge in visitors from mainland China to trade-related exhibitions. Their numbers grew by 21 per cent year-on-year and exceeded 2019 levels by 9.2 per cent, signalling strong regional engagement.
Bailey credited government initiatives for helping the industry weather economic turbulence. “We are fortunate to have strong government support, such as the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions (ISRE), which has been instrumental in mitigating financial pressures for organisers,” he said.
Looking ahead, the launch of ISRE 2.0 in July is expected to broaden support by extending funding to additional venues, including the Central Harbourfront Event Space and West Kowloon Cultural District.
Backgrounder… Geopolitics give organisers the jitters
Bailey emphasised the importance of continued backing: “The survey results show that Hong Kong’s exhibition industry needs support from the government during this challenging and volatile time to maintain its hard-earned status as the Trade Fair Capital of Asia.
The upcoming ISRE 2.0 reflected the Hong Kong SAR Government’s commitment to the exhibitions industry, he said, but cautioned that trade activities would affected by the tariff war.
“The volume of merchandise trade globally is likely to fall in 2025. Our industry strongly urges an extension of the [ISRE] scheme beyond 2026 and further collaboration to develop new initiatives that address the unique challenges we face.”
Main picture: HKECIA committee members and guests at the association’s 35th anniversary dinner
