Saturday, March 03, 2007 CFIF resets date of CebuX show
IN AN attempt to further increase foreign attendance to the Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition (Cebu X), the organizer has decided to move next year’s show dates to March 6 to 9 from Feb. 26 to March 1.
In a statement, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) executive director Ruby Salutan said the change was made to avoid or minimize factors that prevented foreign buyers from attending the Cebu X.
She said that in the past years, “something big always” happens, either in the national capital or in the international scene, that ran in conflict with the Cebu X schedule. Some of these events were the US declaration of war against Iraq, the Valentine Day bombing incident in Manila and, last year, the declaration of a national state of emergency two days before Cebu X.
Feb. 25, the day before the opening of Cebu X, is also the anniversary of the first Edsa revolution.
“These situations have affected the Cebu X. All the brouhaha that happens days before the opening is aired all over the media at a time when buyers are getting ready to travel,” she said.
CFIF, however, admitted that changing the show dates is not a guarantee that more buyers will visit the show.
“Cebu X still has a long way to go to be at par with other international shows.
The Cebu International Convention Center is an answer to the industry’s call for a professional show venue,” the Cebu X statement said. (JBN)
