Last Updated on 02/14/2020 by Mark Beckenbach
CP+, one of the Photo Industry’s most important trade shows, is canceled due to fears of Coronavirus.
Journalists, attendees, and manufacturers won’t be heading to Japan later this month due to fears of Coronavirus. The global epidemic is causing fear of travel and slowed down economic growth. Earlier this month, Mobile World Congress was cancelled due to fears of Coronavirus as well. And while CP+ is cancelled, this may not be as gloomy as we think. WPPI 2020 still seems to be on even amid PDN shutting down.
In a press release issued today, the Camera and Products Imaging Association stated the show is canceled.
February 14, 2020 Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA)
Cancellation of CP+ (Camera and Photo Imaging Show) 2020
Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA; President: Masaya Maeda) here announces the cancellation of CP+2020. Given there is no effective treatment or containment measures to deal with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we have chosen to cancel CP+2020 because we put top priority on the health and safety of visitors and exhibitors. The event was originally scheduled to be held over 4 days at PACIFICO Yokohama from February 27.
CP+ is a trade show for consumers. The main feature of this show is that visitors can actually handle the newest camera and related equipment to get a feel for how they operate. The event attracts around 70,000 unspecified visitors and therefore we cannot completely eliminate the risk of infection. The CIPA believes it is important to avoid such risk at all cost. While it is truly regrettable, we have decided to cancel this yearâs show.
We ask for your cooperation and understanding concerning this matter.
CP+ Website
This could mean a lot of crazy things. For example, the fears of COVID-19 will mean an overall decline in press trips and influencers flying out to show you how lame you are because you can’t have their lifestyle cool they are. Manufacturers often use the press to take first looks, iron out any bugs, and then ship their products while improvements are made. But, a lot of that could stop for the moment.
While CP+ is incredibly important to the photo industry (as every manufacturer is based in Japan), there’s still WPPI. WPPI used to be much more important until new management took over and arguably gutted the show. Further, Emerald has said nothing about WPPI being canceled. It’s always been odd as WPPI and CP+ are often right around the same time.
