BREAKING: It’s official! The much-anticipated 2021 Australasia Bus & Coach Expo has been postponed until next year, organiser BusNSW has regrettably announced.
Originally scheduled for Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 September, 2021, and to be held at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, BusNSW executive director Matt Threlkeld confirmed to ABC magazine that the BusNSW Board had made the difficult decision to postpone the Expo following the recent reported Covid outbreak in Greater Sydney.
“The Covid landscape has changed quickly in recent weeks, and we are now confronted with significant uncertainty regarding future movement and gathering restrictions, as well as the possibility of State border closures being imposed,” Threlkeld said.
“There is 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,” Threlkeld added.
“On top of this, some exhibitors need to comply with corporate policies that may require them to withdraw from the event,” he said.
“Ultimately the decision to postpone the event is based on the health and safety of everyone involved being our first priority,” Threlkeld explained.
DISAPPOINTED
BusNSW president John King says the BusNSW Board was disappointed, but had weighed up all the risks and felt that it was in everybody’s best interests to make a call early and postpone the 2021 Expo.
“Following consideration of school holidays, venue availability and other industry events in 2022, we have decided to postpone the event for 12 months,” King said.
“The new dates for 2022 will be announced once they are confirmed with Sydney Showground,” he said.
“We believe this 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,” King said.
“We thank all the industry suppliers who had committed to this year’s event and look forward to the industry supporting the Sydney Expo in 2022,” King said.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Please contact BusNSW on (02) 8839 9500 or email via events@busnsw.com.au for further information or assistance.
Photography: courtesy BusNSW