Tax Free World Association (TFWA) President Erik Juul-Mortensen has told TRBusiness he is expecting “a very healthy number” of exhibitors, buyers and visitors at the forthcoming World Exhibition & Conference (1-5 October) in Cannes.

“After the success of Singapore in May, the plans and prospects for Cannes are looking really well,” he said in a video interview in the August/September e-zine.

As reported, the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in May drew just over 3,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors, of which 61 of the latter were new to the event.

The increasing number of stakeholders, including global retailers and brands, confirming their attendance “all bodes well for Cannes”, added Juul- Mortensen.

At the time of the video interview late last month, registration numbers for the global industry’s showpiece had already reached 2019 levels – its biggest year on record.

“If you look at the number of planned activities by brands, retailers and others to take place in Cannes, it’s all very positive and gives us a lot of confidence,” continued Juul-Mortensen. “We can all look forward to some very interesting and busy days in Cannes.”

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Taking the theme ‘Open World’, this year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference will, as usual, feature a busy programme featuring keynote addresses from the likes of double Pulitzer Prize winning US journalist and author Bob Woodward, and Dr. Pippa Malmgren, economist, entrepreneur, author and former special assistant to US President George W. Bush.

The traditional opening cocktail makes a welcome return to this year’s social programme, which also includes the wheelchair rugby tournament and after-work TFWA Lounge sessions. However, TFWA has decided not to re-introduce the conventional gala dinner usually timed for Thursday evening.

Asked whether he stood by comments made last year in which he pointed to the DF&TR industry “flying at full height once again” in 2023, TFWA’s President responded: “I still believe that. There are still issues, but in overall terms I think we will be back at the pre-Covid level at the end of this year – certainly if our planning is anything to go by.

“If you look at all aspects of the business… airlines, airports, cruise lines and borders, people are travelling at ever-increasing numbers. It is true that in some cases the increasing number of travellers hasn’t led to more people in the stores, but those who do visit stores – as far as I understand – do tend to buy more than in the past.”

To watch the full interview with Erik Juul-Mortensen click the above link.

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Main image source: TFWA/Nathalie Oundjian.