Exhibitors at the upcoming Taipei International Sporting Goods Show yesterday implored the event's host to postpone or cancel the April show because many foreign buyers, worried about severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), will stay away.
"Nearly 80 percent of our foreign clients said they don't plan to visit the show. Therefore, in order not to waste time and money, we suggest the event be cancelled," said Wu Yi-chung (吳怡君), a marketing official at Johnson Health Tech Co (喬山健康科技), one of the nation's major fitness equipment manufacturers with NT$180 billion in sales last year.
Johnson Health Tech sent out invitations to 50 regular customers, yet only six clients confirmed they will come, Wu said.
More than 30 percent of Johnson Health Tech's annual sales come from the show, Wu said, adding that the company plans to spend up to NT$3 million on the show.
"Asian buyers still plan to come from Hong Kong, Australia and South Korea, while Western buyers have turned down the invitation," Wu said.
Johnson Health Tech was not the only sporting goods maker to push for a postponement of this year's show, the 30th annual TaiSPO, which is slated to run between April 11 to April 14 at the Taipei World Trade Center.
"Most clients say they don't want to visit the Asia Pacific area until SARS is under control," said Lin Ting-hsiu (
The show's organizer, the China External Trade Development Council (CETRA), sought to play down talk of poor attendance, saying the show offered new opportunities.
"With Hong Kong and Guangdong being designated as infected areas, many foreign buyers may come to Taiwan to make purchases instead," said Hu Ching-po (
He added that one Australian company, Octopus Promotions, which used to purchase golf accessories from China, phoned CETRA and said this year they will come to the TaiSPO.
"Even though the total number of visitors may drop, most of them are serious buyers," he said.
The 2003 Taipei International Cycle Show, which ended Tuesday, reported a 20 percent decline in buyer numbers, but sales were barely affected, Hu said.
He said most exhibitors and buyers were satisfied with the cycle trade show, but that it was too early to provide sales figures.
According to CETRA, all four international trade fairs this month -- TaiSPO, Optoeletronics Show (April 18-22), Electronics Spring Show (April 18-22) and the Gift and Stationary Spring Show (April 25-28) -- will continue on schedule.
CETRA hopes to steal China-bound buyers by creating a China Products Area, allowing buyers to check out products manufactured by Taiwanese companies based in China.
As a precautionary measure, all show attendants will be given masks, CETRA said.
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