Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has published addendum figures to the visitor numbers at the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference, as reported by TRBusiness last week.

More than a third (39%) of the 3,039 visitors that attended the event were from travel retail operators, airports and landlords.

In the case of the first, China Duty Free, Avolta and Heinemann were among 16 of the top 20 global travel retailers represented.

A record 1,100 meetings were scheduled via the ONE2ONE meeting service, an increase of 20% over last year.

Tokyo Haneda, Delhi Indira Ghandi, Singapore Changi and Hong Kong International Airports were present in a strong contingent of Asia airports.

Popular workshops

Attendance at TFWA’s regional focus workshops were up by nearly half (49%) with ‘standing room only’ in the Market Watch: China workshop, attended by 319 delegates.

Meanwhile, a total of 237 delegates attended the session on India, a ‘considerable increase’ on last year, said TFWA, after both drew 373 attendees last year.

Attendance at the TFWA workshops was up by nearly half (+49%) with standing room only at the China workshop, was attended by 319 delegates (pictured below) and the India workshop (pictured above) drawing 237 audience members. Credit: TFWA Press Office.

More than 1,500 delegates visited the after-business TFWA Asia Pacific Lounge, with TFWA adding extra seating and space and facilitating events including the Women in Travel Retail reception and an airports’ gathering.

A total of 1,200 people attended the Welcome Cocktail at the Gardens by the Bay on Sunday 11 May.

Across the exhibition floor, an upgraded design aesthetic welcomed visitors with softer and contemporary finishes.

Elsewhere, floral arrangements including live trees and atmospheric lighting in blue and green hues at the Welcome Cocktail greeted guests under the occasion’s ‘Enchanted Garden’ theme.

Credit: TFWA Press Office.

“The debut of new brands at the show and the large numbers attending both formal sessions and networking events goes to show that the region undoubtedly retains its position of huge importance to our industry,” stated TFWA President Philippe Margueritte.

No closing press conference

“With 3,039 visitors, our numbers are indeed slightly down from last year. But in a climate of uncertainty that isn’t helpful to any sector and political unrest such as the situation between India and Pakistan prevented many delegates attending from India, it’s been gratifying to welcome so many of travel retail’s senior decision makers to Singapore. Without any doubt, serious business has been done this week – people were here to make decisions and get deals done.

“As an association whose guiding principle is ‘by the trade for the trade’, we have always striven to deliver the best value to our members. We do this by regularly canvassing their views and then innovating and investing to ensure we continue to meet their changing requirements.

“For Cannes this year, we have a number of new elements planned to ensure the show is even more relevant and has even greater draw as by far the most important date in the travel retail calendar.”

The TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference attracted a total of 3,039 visitors, slightly down on last year’s event. Credit: TFWA Press Office.

TFWA chose not to hold the closing press conference at the Asia Pacific, a customary fixture of the week that allows the trade media to engage in important dialogue with members of the Board and put questions to the association on aspects of TFWA-organised event(s) in a convivial environment.

Approached by TRBusiness, a spokesperson from TFWA told TRBusiness: “It was felt by the TFWA board that as it is unable to give final figures at the conference that the conference doesn’t provide much value to the media.

“Also while obviously we have to have the conference as late in the day as possible to give as complete a picture as possible, this is not convenient for some journalists who have to leave. However, if the media does indeed find the conference useful, its reinstatement will be considered.”