Buyers postpone decision to attend Singapore show

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Key to many exhibitors' participation at TFWA Asia/Pacific in Singapore next month will be the level of attendance from retailers

While the decision to proceed has added some clarity to a previously uncertain situation, by early today many buyers were still watching and waiting. Most of these intend to make final decisions in early May, and are monitoring the restrictions placed on them by Singapore or even their own governments.

King Power (Thailand) is typical of many we contacted. A spokesperson said: "Currently we have held the hotel reservations and bookings. However our attendance finally will depend on whether the government in Thailand relaxes the restrictions for Thai nationals and expatriates returning from any of the five affected countries (this involves voluntary quarantine for 14 days). As of this week, the restrictions on travel are still in place, and the government is monitoring the situation. We will make a final decision as close as possible to the show in May, as King Power intend to send a team as usual to Singapore, if this at all feasible this year."

In Japan, TRW understands key retailers are hesitating over the decision to attend the show. The country's biggest travel retailer JATCo is yet to commit itself and is understood to be reluctant to attend, while Osaka Kansai operators KAI (formerly Taihoh Global) and Asahi Airport Service have pulled out. Kansai airport authority KIAC will make a decision based on whether its retail joint-venture partner JATCo will attend. Airport Senmon Daiten has registered for the show but will monitor the spread of the virus before making a firm decision. Tokyo Narita airport authority NAA confirmed to TRW that it plans to attend.

A spokeswoman for King Power said its team of 10 buyers will not attend and had apologised to vendors. She said: "We are planning meetings with them later in the year". Managing director Antares Cheng plans to go but will make a final decision nearer the time, she added.

China Duty Free Group has yet to finally commit to the event, but plans to send a team of 30 if it does attend, which would be a huge boost to the show. "It depends on SARS. We have not confirmed either way yet," said a spokesperson.

Beijing Capital International airport deputy purchasing manager Foster Fu said: "Normally four people go but this time there will be nobody from here."

A Nuance Australia spokesman said four or five people were due to go and they were still registered, but a decision would be taken early next month. Meanwhile Nuance-Watson (HK) managing director Alessandra Piovesana said: "We would normally take four or five people. Although we are still registered, I have no certainty on whether our company will be safe from infection until then. Hong Kong is in the midst of a major crisis and the strain of the virus continues to spread rapidly."

Hong Kong airport liquor and tobacco operator Sky Connection said a decision was on hold. A spokesman told TRW: "Normally we'd send two people; ceo Baker Salleh and director merchandising and buying Simon Au, but it depends what happens in the coming weeks with SARS."

Airport Authority Hong Kong also said that it was unsure, and that the coming weeks were critical.

Weitnauer deputy coo Eurasia and Asia Jan Baljet said he would not be taking his team of six to Singapore. He had already cancelled planned Hong Kong business trips.

Many others have yet to make a final decision. Cathay Pacific Airways inflight sales and amenities manager Anna Cheung said: "In view of the current SARS situation we most probably won't go to Singapore, but it's also because, like all airlines, we are too busy with survival and contingency plans to go. There will probably be no representative from Cathay Pacific. Normally we would have three or four attending."

From Perth in Australia, Gateway Duty Free managing director Tom Thomas said: "I've bought three airline tickets but I haven't even registered yet, which is unusual for me. That shows I am not committed to it. The scales are tipped in favour of the three of us not going."

Kuala Lumpur International airport operator Dimensi Eksklusif said: "We are registered to go but we have to wait and see the situation regarding SARS. It's still a month away." Dimensi will take a team of 10 if it attends.

Fellow operator Eraman said: "We'll decide by May 2. We have an ongoing booking which we haven't cancelled yet but I think things are not getting any better with SARS."

Taiwanese operators remain bullish about the show. Taipei airport operator EverRich Duty Free Shop Corp plans to take a team of at least six people, Tasa Meng Corp plans to take three and Shanghai Pudong operator Sunrise Duty Free plans to take three people.

TRW understands that the leading Middle East retailers still plan to attend.