Following the delivery of the 3rd JCtrans Global Freight Forwarders Expo in June and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Aviation Day earlier this month, Hong Kong has major homegrown, regional and global aviation and logistics conferences and exhibitions set to take place in the city through the rest of 2023 and 2024.
The IATA World Cargo Symposium 2024, Aero-Engines Asia-Pacific 2024 and Super Terminal Expo 2024 will all be held in Hong Kong for the first time next year.
In the nearer future, the Hong Kong-founded event, Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference 2023, will take place in November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre while the Asia Pacific Region Innovation and Capacity Building Symposium 2023 will take place in December at AsiaWorld-Expo.
As already reported by micenet, the CAPA Airline Leader Summit & Sustainability Awards 2024 will co-locate with Informa Markets’ inaugural Super Terminal Expo 2024 in November next year.
“We are thrilled that Hong Kong has become the destination of choice for multiple aviation and logistic events,” said Kenneth Wong, general manager of MICE and cruise for Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).
“The city’s status as an aviation hub with a globally connected transportation network, a future-proof Airport City development, top-notch convention venues and a gateway to the GBA makes it a strategic choice in the region to host major industry events.”
Hong Kong is within five hours flight of half of the world’s population, thanks to its location in Asia. Hong Kong International Airport is often ranked amongst the world’s busiest airports, and is undergoing its own major development to become an “Airport City”.
The IATA World Cargo Symposium in March 2024 is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates to AsiaWorld-Expo.
“Hong Kong has the elements needed to retain its status as an important aviation hub for both passengers and air cargo,” said IATA’s deputy director general and corporate secretary, Conrad Clifford.
“This includes having a strong hub airline, Cathay Pacific, as well as having the experience and expertise in handling perishable goods, lithium batteries and other dangerous cargo. I am confident that Hong Kong’s traffic will return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, three years earlier than previously expected. This is in line with expectations of a faster recovery in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Traditionally a strongly performing host of international business events, Hong Kong was one of the last countries to lift pandemic-era travel restrictions, but its return to prominence appears to be taking place swiftly.
