Taipei Cycle, one of the world's largest cycling shows, announced on August 4th their plans to hold the 2022 event both physically and virtually. Taipei Cycle began in 1988 and was heading into its 33rd exhibition in 2020 when the event was canceled for health concerns relating to COVID-19. In 2021, Taipei Cycle attracted an estimated 100,000 visitors from 81 countries across the globe. With noted strong participants in Germany, Singapore, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S.

Despite the tumultuous past couple of years, the bicycle industry has seen profitable growth. Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade accounted for the export value for e-bikes in the first half of 2021 reaching USD 647 million. With a YoY growth of 40%. Although attending a trade show in person is an irreplaceable experience, Taipei Cycle believes adding the digital platform will maximize the number of opportunities in which buyers and sellers can interact with one another.

This new change comes amid concerns of eliminating travel barriers and time differences that may prohibit individuals or companies from attending. Boasting numbers of the largest B2B bicycle exhibition in Asia and the second largest in the world, the Taipei Cycle expects exhibitors from twenty-two countries and regions. Ms. Leonor Lin, president of the TAITRA states that there has been a “disparity among exhibitors'' relating to their understanding of procedures in digital and marketing skills.” Lin hopes that the new format of the virtual event will help exhibitors “level up their relevant knowledge and sharpen their skills.”

Registration for both events will open on August 12th. Taipei Cycle DigitalGo, the virtual event, will be held from March 9th to April 8th. The in-person exposition will start the same day as the virtual event, taking place from March 9th-12th. Further information can be found on taipeicycle.com.tw.