by Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy, president, Byrne Communications
The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair will once again welcome visitors when the 49th edition of the show kicks off January 9-12 at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre. And we are ready to be back to seeing toys in person! Thanks to relaxed quarantine restrictions, seeing the show in person is once again feasible for visitors from around the world, including those from the U.S.
Under this year’s theme of “Play To Bond — Family and Beyond,” the fair returns to its broad coverage of all types of products ranging from tech to classics to so-called “kidult” products and much more.
In addition, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), producers of the fair, will once again host their outstanding educational series. Events will be held throughout the show for visitors to keep abreast of the latest industry developments and strengthen their networks. As it has in the past, the Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference 2023 will share insights on key global and regional trends shaping the toys industry.
Visitors from the U.S. will be able to participate in most activities thanks to a revised COVID-19 mitigation program.
Travelers will be under a “test and go” process on arrival. Following a negative PCR test at the airport, visitors will receive a “blue” code on the Leave Home Safe app (which must be downloaded upon arrival in Hong Kong) and will be permitted to move freely through most areas in the city.
For those who might not yet be ready to travel, the fair will be accessible online under the brand-new EXHIBITION+ model which integrates online and offline shows. That will be live from January 9-19.
HKTDC has also introduced programs to support and partially underwrite costs for potential exhibitors. For complete details, contact Victoria Delvizis, Victoria.delvizis@HKTDC.org. Click here for full information on the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair.
At this writing, many U.S. companies are still finalizing their travel plans for the first quarter, but HKTDC is enthusiastic about participation from companies around the globe. Early interviews indicate that the experience will be “almost normal,” and that’s a great start — and a quantum leap forward.
See you at the fair!
