Hong Kong, 29th November: This week, the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) released its biennial Economic Impact Study. According to the study, the local exhibition industry contributed HK$52.9 billion (US$6.8 billion) to Hong Kong’s economy in 2016.

According to the study, international exhibitors and exhibition visitors spent more than general overnight tourists – on average spending 75% and 66% more respectively. Of the US$6.8 billion expenditure, more than half (US$3.4 billion) was generated from direct expenditures by visitors, exhibitors and event organisers. In addition, the exhibition industry generated the equivalent of 77,000 full-time jobs in Hong Kong in 2016.