The 2010 Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair in June attracted 19,094 visitors from 100 countries and regions – 14.4 percent more than last year.
According to fair organiser UBM Asia, the visitors came from Hong Kong (9144), mainland China (3639), Taiwan (748), Philippines (632); India (527), United States (461), Japan (452), Thailand (393), Korea (372), Australia (261), Indonesia (259) and Singapore (253).
UBM jewellery fairs director Celine Lau said a 30 percent rise in visitor numbers from outside Hong Kong was a testament to the international nature of the event and the global economy’s upswing.
“We are always happy to see the June Fair successfully fulfil its role in bringing ample business opportunities to our exhibitors,” she said.
“This year, thousands of professional buyers flocked to Hong Kong for the Fair,” she said.
“We are particularly happy to note that the number of overseas visitors was up 30 percent to 9950.
“We also saw a significant rise in the number of visitors from two of the world’s fastest growing markets – China and India – up 30 percent and 33 percent, respectively.”
In addition to the increase in visitor numbers, the 2010 Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair also attracted a record-breaking 1283 exhibitors from around the world – 16.6 percent more than last year.
Lau said there were numerous factors that had contributed to the fair’s success and its “status as Asia’s premier mid-year sourcing event”.
“All of Asia’s key markets are within a five-hour flight from the Hong Kong International Airport,” she said.
“Being at the heart of Asia and the gateway to the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong has an enviable trade advantage – these factors also enable players in Hong Kong to easily monitor market trends in the region.”
Although the Fair attracted exhibitors from around the world with group pavilions from a number of countries including Antwerp, mainland China, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, the 717 exhibitors from Hong Kong accounted for more than half the exhibits.
Next year’s fair will be held from June 23 to 26 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.