Coronavirus jeopardises exhibition schedules in Asia

Beauty Asia Singapore is the first major trade fair in our industry to announce that it is rescheduling as a result of the Coronavirus; we’re still awaiting clarity regarding other events across the continent, especially in China.

It comes as no surprise that in Asia, and especially in China, exhibitions are having an extremely hard time sticking to their schedules. The Coronavirus outbreak simply cannot be controlled in environments like these where thousands of people gather and interact.

BEIJING, CHINA – JANUARY 28: A Chinese man wears a protective mask as he rides an escalator at a large empty shopping area that would usually be busy during the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival holiday on January 28, 2020, in Beijing, China. The number of cases of a deadly new coronavirus rose to over 4000 in mainland China Tuesday as health officials locked down the city of Wuhan last week in an effort to contain the spread of the pneumonia-like disease which medicals experts have confirmed can be passed from human to human. In an unprecedented move, Chinese authorities put travel restrictions on the city which is the epicenter of the virus and neighboring municipalities affecting tens of millions of people. The number of those who have died from the virus in China climbed to over 100 on Tuesday and cases have been reported in other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. Due to concerns over the spread of the virus, the Beijing government closed many popular attractions such as the Forbidden City and sections of the Great Wall among others.(Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Major concerns in Singapore

The first Beauty Fair to officially announce its rescheduling is Beauty Asia Singapore, which was due to take place on February 24-26. It has been postponed to August 2-4 2020. The organizers have published on the home page of their website a note that refers to “Safety of visitors and exhibitors as a top priority.” Apologizing for the inconvenience, they convey their understanding and support to all those affected. At the same time, with the rescheduling, they want to send a message of hope and optimism, foreseeing a solution of the crisis within a few months. The directive seems to have originated from concerns by The Ministry Of Health of Singapore that has declared the area as high risk.

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A cleaner walks past the Sihui Long Distance Bus Station in Beijing after the city has stoped inter-province buses services as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, January 26, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY – RC2GNE96D378

Assessing the wider situation

In Vietnam, the Saigon Beauty Show which is scheduled for February, 27-29, seems to still be on, based on the fact that their website doesn’t give any information to the contrary. In China, where the outbreak first began and where the situation is critical, the information we are receiving is patchy to say the very least. However, Messe Frankfurt and Chic have announced that their trade fairs scheduled in China in the coming weeks will be postponed. This mostly concerns the textile sector: Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition; Yarn Expo Spring and Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition. Postponement announcements have also been published for some events in the south: Prolight + Sound Guangzhou, Sps – Industrial Automation Fair Guangzhou (Siaf), Asiamold Guangzhou, Toy & Edu, Baby & Stroller and Licensing China Shenzhen

On the other hand, we do not have clear information about CIBE China International Beauty Expo Beijing scheduled for February 25 27, although the prospects for it going ahead are very shaky considering the current situation with Coronavirus within China. The same situation applies to GuangZhou Spring Edition CIBE China International Beauty Expo Guangzhou – still scheduled for March 10-12 on the official website.

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Important Beauty exhibitions are also traditionally held in May in Shanghai: CIBE 13-15 May and CBE 19-21 May. It is still early to receive an official decision statement from the organizers, but according to commentators, the May beauty fairs are also at risk, seeing how impossible it is to foresee in what way the Coronavirus situation will evolve over the coming months.