Some 900,000 visitors flocked to the Hong Kong Book Fair, Sports and Leisure Expo and World of Snacks which ran from 16 to 22 July despite adverse weather forcing a one-day closure.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the annual summer blockbuster event featured more than 770 exhibitors, combining the fun of reading, sports, leisure and food to create a summer extravaganza with widespread appeal.
Although a typhoon forced a full-day shutdown, the three exhibitions still attracted an impressive 890,000 visits.
Commenting on the undiminished enthusiasm of booklovers, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Sophia Chong said: “We extended the opening hours on Monday striving to secure more sales for exhibitors and browsing opportunities for visitors and bring this big summer event to a successful close.”
Ms Chong added that three special offers to mark the Book Fair’s 35th anniversary were warmly received, including free admission for more than 10,000 individuals born in 1990.
Enthusiasm high despite typhoon
Large crowds of visitors were seen throughout the Book Fair. Many seminars and book launches featuring esteemed writers from around the world reached full capacity.
Apart from huge numbers of local residents and tourists from Mainland China, some Book Fair exhibitors even welcomed booklovers from Japan and Southeast Asia.
Long queues formed at the booth of publisher Creation Cabin for the latest book in the Kowloon Walled City series, including about 30 to 40 travellers from Japan each day.
First-time exhibitor Anything But also experienced long queues. Representative Ms Tai stated that sales in the first three days exceeded projections by 30% and noted the presence of many travellers from Macao, Singapore and Malaysia.
An antiquities shop specialising in calligraphy and artworks, Tsi Ku Chai exhibited for the first time and was pleased with the response. Administrative Director Brian Lai said: "We aim to rejuvenate our brand by collaborating with artists to launch cultural and creative products, and the Book Fair served as an excellent testing ground for this."
Recordings of selected Book Fair seminars are available online and can be revisited at any time through the Book Fair website or via other HKTDC online platforms.
Over 50% visitors attracted by new books
A survey of 860 visitors showed that respondents spent an average of HK$918 (US$117) at this year’s Book Fair, a slight increase compared to last year and accounting for 57% of their annual print book expenditure.
The survey also showed that the most popular book categories among readers this year were fiction and novels (45%), children and youth-related books (25%), literature (23%), comics (17%) and study guides (16%).
The main reasons people visited the Book Fair were to obtain newly released books, according to 55% of respondents, take advantage of discounts (49%) and enjoy the fair’s atmosphere (27%).
As an annual highlight of Hong Kong’s culture calendar, the Book Fair forms just one part of Cultural July, a series of cultural activities across the city’s 18 districts. The series will continue until 31 July at various educational, cultural and arts institutions across the city.
At the Sports and Leisure Expo, visitors took part in a wide variety of new sports activities including drone soccer and pickleball and learned about the National Games which will be held in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in November. The FIBA 3x3 World Tour Hong Kong 2025 was held as part of the expo for the first time.
Meanwhile, the World of Snacks displayed over 1,300 different products including global snacks, classic flavours, healthy options and handcrafted snacks, ensuring that visitors left with a full array of tasty treats.
In August, the HKTDC will hold more summer events with the Food Expo, Food Expo PRO, Beauty & Wellness Expo, Home Delights Expo, and Hong Kong International Tea Fair projected to attract thousands of visitors and present enticing business opportunities for exhibitors in the lifestyle product categories.