Hong Kong Book Fair closes with 1 million visits, average spending up 4.6%
- Organiser says event turnout boosted by large number of mainland visitors, while some exhibitors lament sales drop of 5 per cent to 15 per cent
One of Asia’s largest literary events has wrapped up with nearly 1 million visits over a seven-day period in Hong Kong, with average spending rising by 4.6 per cent over last year based on a poll of visitors who bought books, the organiser has said.
It added the average spending of the book fair’s visitors amounted to HK$912 (US$117), 4.6 per cent higher than last year.
“The book fair continued its tradition of bringing people together through literature, with seminars achieving remarkable popularity and attracting many visitors from mainland China,” Sophia Chong, acting executive director of the council, said.
Still, some exhibitors said they had recorded a drop in sales by about 5 per cent to 15 per cent at this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair, with readers rushing to make last-minute purchases on the final day of the event.
Booksellers said the weaker figures compared with last year were due to the end of a consumption voucher scheme and the hosting of a sports and a snack expo at the same venue.
