The HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, HKTDC Sports and Leisure Expo and fourth HKTDC World of Snacks, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), drew nearly a million visitors over seven days, giving Hong Kong’s economy a welcome boost.
The events featured 760 exhibitors, with diverse activities and interactive experiences at the Book Fair, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the enjoyment of reading, exciting sports experiences and mouthwatering global treats.
The strong industry and public support delighted Sophia Chong, Acting Executive Director of the HKTDC: “The Book Fair continues its tradition of bringing people together through literature, with seminars achieving remarkable popularity and attracting many visitors from the Mainland .”
The World of Art & Culture featured film and TV exhibits from 31 countries and regions complemented by diverse cultural activities and interactive facilities, enhancing Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange.
The concurrent Sports and Leisure Expo and World of Snacks, with a wide range of experiences and delicacies, attracted visitors from around the world and helped stimulate local consumption.
A survey of 820 visitors provided an in-depth analysis of book lovers’ reading habits and spending preferences. The average surveyed visitor spent HK$912 (US$117) at this year’s Fair, up 4.6% from last year and accounting for 74% of their annual print book expenditure.
The survey also showed that the most popular book categories among readers were fiction and novels at 47%, comics at 21%, children and youth-related books at 19%, travel at 18% and literature at 16%. In terms of e-books, 65% of respondents spent an average of 16 hours reading e-books in the past month.
The main reasons for people visiting the Book Fair were to purchase newly released books, stated by 55% of respondents. 53% of those surveyed paid a visit to enjoy discounts when buying books, while 30% did so to experience the event’s cultural atmosphere.
To further promote a reading culture in Hong Kong, the Book Fair and Cultural July ‧ Joyful Summer Reading have organised more than 600 events. Cultural July is offering a range of author sharing sessions, storytelling performances, film-related activities, handicraft workshops and cultural sharing sessions across the city’s 18 districts. Recordings of selected seminars are available online. Readers can revisit them on the Book Fair website or via other HKTDC online platforms.
The Sports and Leisure Expo featured a variety of sports and leisure products and new experiences, attracting visitors of all ages. Activities included the family-friendly zipline experience, demonstrations by the Tai Chi Robot, performances by mascots from the Japan Pavilion and a mosaic photo wall to cheer on the Hong Kong athletes heading to the Paris Olympics.
The World of Snacks, meanwhile, showcased more than 1,200 snacks, offering classic flavours, healthy options and taste sensations from across the globe, with cooling treats such as ice cream being particularly popular.
Next month the HKTDC holds another summer staple, the Food Expo, alongside Food Expo PRO, and concurrent fairs covering tea, home delights and beauty and wellness.
