Confidence and optimism; sentiments that defined TFWA Asia Pacific & GATE ONE2ONE 2010 in the eyes of many exhibitors, visitors and speakers (see, hear or read their testimonials elsewhere within this review). And sentiments that were supported by the final visitor numbers, which rebounded to 2008 levels; total visitor numbers reached 1,912 – up 13% on last year – and the number of visiting companies reached 822, up 12%.

Included in this total were 685 landlord and operator visitors, up 20% on last year, attending the event from 219 companies.
These visitor numbers mark an encouraging return to 2008 levels; in total the event attracted just three fewer visitors than in 2008, with visiting companies up 4% and landlord and operator visitors on a par with attendance that year.
About 85% of visitors were from Asia, a proportion that has risen steadily in recent years, with the top ten countries being Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, China, India, Taiwan, Philippines and United Arab Emirates. Visitors from Australia also increased dramatically, up by 58% on last year.

Exhibitors will also have welcomed the increased proportion of landlords and operators who attended this year’s event representing 36% of total visitors, with agents accounting for 47% of all visitors.

The visitor numbers are a welcome indicator that, while it may still be at a fragile stage, the Asia Pacific market is on the road to recovery. More detail of visitor numbers is provided in the charts below.