TFWA ASIA PACIFIC PREVIEW: JOHN RIMMER


Rimmer prepares for first Singapore show as TFWA MD


With last year’s Cannes event an early major highlight in his new tenure, Tax Free World Association Managing Director John Rimmer is again confident of stepping up to deliver a stellar conference and exhibition in the dynamic Asia Pacific region. Andrew Pentol reports.


T


he 2017 TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition and Conference at the Marina Bay Sands Expo


and Convention Centre in Singapore attracted a total of 3,087 visitors, up a record +6% compared to the 2,905 recorded in 2016. Speaking to TRBusiness, TFWA Managing Director John Rimmer is aiming to go one better this year when the event begins (6-10 May). Rimmer was appointed to the


role in September [effective October] succeeding Alain Maingreaud who had held the position since 2010. Rimmer’s first TFWA WE show as Managing Director around a month later was a personal highlight of his first six months in the role. However, there have been


plenty of challenges, including the cancellation of last year’s MEADFA conference in Beirut due to political uncertainty and its consequent rescheduling in Dubai in January. Asia Pacific DF&TR sales grew by 8.1% in the first half of 2017 to total $15bn, according to preliminary figures from Generation Research. The result means ASPAC considerably outperformed its


regional


counterparts and now accounts for approximately 45% of the industry’s global revenue total. As such, there is plenty for visitors and delegates to be positive about. This is not to mention record passenger numbers at key airports in 2017 such as Hong Kong International, which handled 72.9m (+3.3% year-on-year), and Singapore Changi Airport at 62.2m passengers (+6% year-on-year). In addition,


infrastructural


improvements such as new terminal openings at Singapore Changi Terminal 4 and Seoul Incheon Terminal 2, have provided a timely boost to capacity. Moreover, Chinese


APRIL 2018


John Rimmer was appointed TFWA Managing Director in September 2017.


tourist arrivals to South Korea appear to be on an upward trajectory again after sinking as low as -70% last July due to the THAAD missile crisis. Rimmer tells TRBusiness: “We are


hopeful of eclipsing last year’s visitor and exhibitor numbers. Preparations are going very well. We will have more exhibition space than ever, more exhibitors than ever and hopefully more visitors than ever.” The event, which will remain in Singapore until at least 2020, has become a must-attend showpiece for the industry well beyond the scope of Asia-Pacific. “We all know Asia is the motor of


our industry in terms of the inbound and outbound tourism the various nations generate. We hope the Asia event is on the calendars of many companies in our industry. We must ensure it reflects the dynamism of the region.” He continues: “Our feedback


indicates it is a very business-focused event. The quality of brands is increasing year-on-year and we will have all the major operators there.


We have a very good airport turnout in Asia Pacific and plenty of airlines, so all the sectors are covered.”


‘Great things happening’ The cruise retail business is one sector generating significant interest in Asia, particularly in Singapore, where DFS Group officially opened its master duty free and duty paid Singapore Cruise Centre offer in August 2017. Rimmer says: “All sectors kind of


come together to make Asia a very dynamic and diverse market. We want our event to reflect that and we think it will.”


“We all know Asia is the motor of our industry in terms of the inbound and outbound tourism the various nations generate.”


John Rimmer, Managing Director, TFWA


TRBUSINESS 37


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