Singapore to continue as Asia/Pacific show venue

John Rimmer

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Tax Free World Association's management committee has decided that its Asia/Pacific exhibition will remain in the city in 2007, 2008 and possibly 2009

Following a meeting of its management committee, Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has decided that the TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition will continue to be held in Singapore beyond the expiry of the current contract after next year's event. The show will be held in the city in 2007, 2008 and possibly 2009 if TFWA decides to exercise its option to extend.

The organiser canvassed opinion from its members and from visitors to this year's show, and found an even split between those keen for the event to stay in Singapore and those happy to move. But 85% of respondents said they would not favour a change if it meant a rise in costs of over 10%.

"The clear message that came from our research was that if the price of exhibition space and related services rose significantly, then people didn't want to move," said TFWA CEO Andrew Ford. He added that Shanghai was the preferred destination of most of those who favoured a change of venue, with Hong Kong second choice.

Ford said that the decision to stay in Singapore hinged on the facilities offered by the Suntec Centre, its convenient downtown location and the relationship TFWA has built with the city and its transport services. He added that changes made to the show's format for the 2006 edition would meet many of the requirements expressed by exhibitors and delegates.

Next year's Singapore exhibition will be preceded by the GATE One conference, which will take place on Monday May 15. To avoid overlap with GATE One, the show will open the following day. On Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18, the exhibition will open at the later time of 10am to allow morning workshop sessions, designed to increase networking opportunities. Ford told RavenFox.com that exhibition costs would be "more or less the same" next year, but said that it was too early to say whether there would be changes to the format in 2007 and beyond.

Meanwhile, TFWA has announced it is considering holding a duty-free conference in China in 2007, to capitalise on interest in duty-free's biggest emerging market. Ford said the association had already received support from key retailers such as DFS Group and Sunrise Duty Free, along with the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association. TFWA plans to launch the event at next year's Singapore show.