Comments on: TabInfo Asia 2009 – Bangkok Thailand – fallout.

By: Anthony Grijpstra

Anthony Grijpstra — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:32:07 +0000

I think that a re-thinking on the number and locations of all the tobacco releated exhibitions should be done by ALL the organisers.
I strongly propose the hold 1 tobacco exhibition per year and to locate in sequence that exhibition on different continents eg in 2010 in Asia, in 2011 in Europe and in 2012 in America.
This will be then for the exhibitors rewarding as only 1 show per year will give them time to present new ideas and for the visitors it will be rewarding to see and meet suppliers.
So ALL organizers of the present shows will have to join into this schedule otherwise the present exhibitors will withdraw from any of the “planned” shows.

By: Colin Mackie

Colin Mackie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:24:18 +0000

There is no denying that the event was, for almost all attendees, a total and costly disaster.

The number of attendees was exceptionally low and, as first-time exhibitors, it could well have been a very expensive one-time-only occurrence for us.

However, I have to admit that even with all of the massive problems and concerns, Piparette had a very successful result. Perhaps it was because we were one of the only exhibitors with something totally new and exciting, or that I had a lovely Brazilian lady on our stand, I do not know.

I do also concede with Chris that there seems to be an inordinate number of events that I could, and possibly, should attend, but this would be highly time and cost prohibitive for a young company such as ours.

One or two really good events annually would seem to be the most sensible approach. I would hope that the organisers of these events sit down together and look at the industry as it is today and will be over the next few years and plan something that exhibitors and attendees alike will make as an essential must-attend event.

By: Bill Godshall

Bill Godshall — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:35:08 +0000

I suspect that was the last international tobacco conference to be held in a country that doesn’t protect freedom of speech or the right to public assemby.

I was invited to participate in a discussion at the conference about tobacco harm reduction products and policies, but declined to go because I couldn’t afford the expense (and because I won’t accept tobacco industry funding).

Its unfortunate that the goal of the protest was to sabotage the conference, not to reduce tobacco diseases or deaths.

Abstinence-only anti-tobacco/nicotine extremists have deluded themselves to believe that hating, harrassing and banning the tobacco industry is more important than reducing or preventing toboacco diseases.

Reminds me of anti abortion extremists who oppose sensible policies to reduce unwanted pregnances and sexually transmitted diseases simply because those reasonable policies are inconsistent or interfere with their ideological goal of outlawing all abortions.