Not surprisingly with. the current Covid crisis, BusNSW has announced its decision to postpone the Australasia Bus & Coach Expo approximately 12 months to a date to be confirmed in 2022
Prior to the recent COVID outbreak in Greater Sydney, BusNSW said it was confident that a COVID-safe Expo could proceed on 29-30 September this year and was to be well supported by exhibitors and visitors, including BusNSW members.
This scenario obviously changed dramatically in recent weeks and Bus NSW was confronted with significant uncertainty regarding future NSW Government movement and gathering restrictions in the lead up to and during the event, as well as the risk of border closures being imposed by other States.
This coupled with a high degree of unpredictability around attendance at the Expo and social functions, with a risk of exhibitors and visitors travelling from regional NSW and interstate being impacted meant that it would be difficult to stage the Expo in September.
The likelihood was also that it would also not be feasible to hold the Industry Gala Dinner on Wednesday 29 September and welcome function on Tuesday 28 September, while some exhibitors needed to withdraw from the event to comply with corporate policies relating to COVID.
BusNSW said that as a result of these issues and making the health and safety of everyone involved its first priority, it felt that it is in everybody’s best interests to make a call early and postpone the 2021 Expo.
“With consideration of school holidays, venue availability and other industry events in 2022, the Australasia Bus & Coach Expo will be postponed for approximately 12 months and the new dates for 2022 will be announced once they are confirmed with Sydney Showground,” BusNSW said in its statement.
“We believe that the delay and a significant uptake of vaccinations during the interim period, will give us the best opportunity to host a world class exhibition and optimise attendance,” it added.
