The Coronavirus Situation and SYS 2020

Company Statement

In view of the continuing coronavirus situation and the likely effect it would have on attendance and participation in the Singapore Yacht Show scheduled for 19-22 March, we sought the opinion of our major exhibitors and partners as to whether they thought we should postpone the event to later in the year.

The overwhelming response was that we should indeed do so, preferably to a date in either May or October, and our own assessment of our social responsibility only served to affirm that decision. On Friday 7 February, the Ministry of Health upgraded its Disease Outbreak Response level to Orange, which means we should now all do everything in our power to limit further spread of the virus. We have therefore reluctantly decided to postpone our 10th Anniversary edition.

Since the situation seems to be escalating rather than levelling off, it is unlikely that travel restrictions and public perception of the health concerns will have eased sufficiently by the end of May to enable us to hold the show in that month. We have little choice therefore but to postpone to October. The exact dates are still in discussion with our host venue, ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, and we will confirm them as soon as we have agreed with ONE°15 management and all other major partners.

This is an extraordinary situation for which nobody is to blame, of course, but we nonetheless sympathise with all our clients, stakeholders and suppliers for the inconvenience the postponement will cause them. Our own business is going to be significantly affected, too, but we feel we must do our bit to ensure the safety and health of our stakeholders.

I am lucky enough to have a team who are totally loyal and supportive, as are all our long-term business partners, and everybody agrees wholeheartedly that we will pull together and get through this difficult period to enjoy an even bigger, better and more successful than ever Singapore Yacht Show in October 2020.

- Andy Treadwell