The 34th HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, 7th HKTDC Sports and Leisure Expo and 4th HKTDC World of Snacks, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded after a seven-day run that saw response from the public, with the total number of visits reaching 990,000. The three cultural and leisure 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.
Sophia Chong, Acting Executive Director of the HKTDC, expressed delight at the strong industry and public support for the three summer events. “The Book Fair continued its tradition of bringing people together through literature, with seminars achieving remarkable popularity and attracting many visitors from Mainland China to participate. Books related to the events theme, Film and TV Literature, were particularly sought-after. The World of Art & Culture featured film and television exhibits from 31 countries and regions, complemented by diverse cultural activities and interactive facilities, allowing visitor to read the world from page to screen and further 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, also attracted visitors from near and far and helped to stimulate local consumption.
The HKTDC commissioned a research institute to interview more than 820 visitors over the Book Fair period, providing an in-depth analysis of booklovers’ reading habits and spending preferences. The average spending of surveyed visitors at this year’s Book Fair was HK$912, up 4.6% year on year, and accounting for 74% of their annual print book expenditure. This highlighted the fair’s appeal as an important promotional and sales platform for the publishing industry. In addition, about 90% of exhibitors at the three fairs offered an electronic payment service, while 72% of interviewed visitors used electronic payments for their transactions.
The survey also showed that the most popular book categories among readers were fiction and novels (47%), comics (21%), children and youth-related books (19%), travel (18%), and literature (16%). In terms of e-books, 65% of respondents said they had read e-books in the past month with an average reading time of 16 hours. The main reasons for people visiting the Book Fair were to purchase newly released books (55%), enjoy discounts when buying books (53%) and to experience the cultural atmosphere at an international book fair (30%).
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.
The three July expos kick off the second half of the HKTDC’s highlighted mega events in Hong Kong that aim to boost the local economy. August will see the staging of the Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Food Expo PRO, Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo, while September features the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, Salon de TIME, CENTRESTAGE and the Belt and Road Summit. October will see the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) and Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo. Taking place in November will be the Hong Kong International Optical Fair and Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, while December will feature HKTDC Entrepreneur Day to round off a busy and productive year.
