Editorial | Mega events also have to be big in quality for sake of Hong Kong’s reputation
- As more shows, conferences and exhibitions are added to the city’s calendar, organisers must ensure people do not go away disappointed
During the darkest days of the pandemic, social distancing and quarantine-control measures spelled the demise of Hong Kong signature events for more than two years.
So there was a collective sigh of relief when pandemic restrictions were eased and a financial summit and special rugby sevens tournament were staged in November 2022 to declare that the city was back.
Since then, the authorities have been making up for lost time. So much so that more than a few eyebrows were raised when Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced a slew of new mega events had been added to this year’s already busy calendar.
So many, in fact, that there will be one every two days in the coming six months. The benefits are clear. The 60 extra events will bring the line-up to 210 for the year, and are expected to attract 1.7 million travellers and help add HK$4.3 billion to the economy.
The variety has been impressive, running the gamut from competitive sports such as the LIV Golf tournament, to artistic and creative as in the Art Basel Hong Kong contemporary art fair – both held in March to great success.
Add to those a raft of large-scale conferences, trade exhibitions, financial summits and other events and the city seems to always have something going on.
