Dear Esteemed Exhibitor,

In light of COVID-19 declared as a “pandemic” on March 11 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) due to the rapidly global spread of the coronavirus outbreak, the governments of the world have been advised to change the course by taking an urgent and aggressive action.

Since the announcement, we have seen countries administering measures such as border closure, stringent travel bans and restrictions, country lockdown, and precautionary measures advisory for the general public practicing “social distancing” or any activities involving close contact that can be a potential vector for transmission of the virus.

As of today, the Ministry of Health has confirmed a total of 509 cases, 294 imported cases and 2 deaths across the country. Due to the increasing numbers of “imported” cases of the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore and the rapid escalation of death and those infected globally, the Singapore government has implemented a series of measures to reduce the risk of imported cases and slow down the transmission of the virus. They are as follows:

General Advisory for Visitors

From 23 March 2020, 2359 hours, all short-term visitors (from anywhere in the world) will not be allowed entry into Singapore, or to transit through Singapore. Singapore has also ceased port calls for all cruise vessels.

General Advisory for Event Organisers

From 20 March 2020 and 1 July 2020, all events and gatherings with 250 or more participants in attendance at any one time should be suspended. For events and gatherings with fewer than 250 participants, organisers and event venue operators are required to implement the necessary precautionary measures to ensure separation of at least a metre apart between participants. Organisers should also put in place precautions such as reducing the scale, improving ventilation, and implementing measures to facilitate contract tracing.

As the organiser of Asia Dive Expo (ADEX), we are once again faced to make another pragmatic business decision based on the current advisory measures by the government of Singapore. Herewith, we regretfully have to postpone and defer the event, originally scheduled for April 17-19 and May 29-31, 2020. The deferred event date will be advised at a later date.

This decision was reached after an extensive consultation with the relevant government authorities and agencies in Singapore, and in consideration to health and safety as the priority of the native Singaporeans, visitors, partners, stakeholders, exhibitors, speakers and industry partners.

Statement from Asia Dive Expo (ADEX)

“The year 2020 has been a challenging one for the global economy and the dive industry. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, as the organiser of Asia Dive Expo, we have been faced with new and multiple challenges facing this situation and we would like to assure you that every decision is made with careful considerations with the support and advisories from the Singapore government agencies.

I must admit that the experience has been a learning curve but in the positive light, ADEX has always been an event that convenes Asia’s dive industry and its community towards its vision – which is to entertain, educate and engage.

COVID-19 situation has affected the world’s travel industry considerably and the most challenged is the dive industry. In the stride of bringing the industry and its community under a single platform, Underwater360° is introducing ADEX to its digital phase – ADEX Pixel Expo. The first exclusive digital platform to represent “one industry. one ocean. one community”.

I hereby invite every ADEX dive industry partners to be a part of this platform as this is the time to unite and fortify the dive industry and its community against an unprecedented future.”

– Mr John Thet
CEO, Underwater360

In conjunction to this announcement, Underwater360° encourages our partners, stakeholders, exhibitors, speakers and industry partners to be a part of our latest online platform, “ADEX Pixel Expo”. This online platform will be the “First Exclusive Digital Platform” showcasing a plethora of underwater and diving content that addresses ADEX’s diving, dive tourism and marine conservation industry and community. For more information, please visit www.adex.asia/pixel or email [email protected].

Once again, Underwater360° deeply apologise and is appreciative to everyone in the diving, dive tourism and, the marine conservation industry for the support, cooperation and patience during this unprecedented times. While we try our best as an event organiser to navigate through this pandemic, we apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Asia Dive Expo (ADEX)
Organising Committee

Dear Esteemed Exhibitor,

Due to the increasing numbers of cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) with evidence of local transmissions, the Singapore government raised the country’s risk assessment level from DORSCON Yellow to DORSCON Orange on 7 February 2020. As of today, the Ministry of Health has confirmed a total of 75 cases of the virus across the country.

Under the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition, or DORSCON, an Orange alert means that the outbreak is deemed to have moderate to high public health impact. In light of the DORSCON Orange code, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)*, and the Ministry of Health (MOH) advisory to cancel or defer nonessential large-scale events, Underwater360°, the organiser of Asia Dive Expo (ADEX), has taken the decision to postpone the event, originally scheduled for April 17-19, 2020. Underwater360° will be announcing the new event dates as soon as they are available.

This decision has been reached after an extensive consultation with the relevant government authorities and agencies in Singapore, and in consideration of the challenges faced by the diving and dive tourism sectors due to restrictions on travel and tourism across Asia-Pacific as well as internationally.

Statement from Singapore Tourism Board

“We are working closely with Underwater360° to support the continued success of Asia Dive Expo. We are committed to standing by our MICE industry to provide the support required, and we believe that Singapore’s reputation as a preferred destination for MICE events remains strong. The health and safety of locals, visitors and industry partners remain a priority and we will continue to monitor the situation,”

Mr Andrew Phua, Director of Exhibitions and Conferences, Singapore Tourism Board.

Underwater360° would like to offer assurance that we will continue to work in partnership with the relevant government authorities and agencies to take all necessary measures in accordance with the latest advisories published by the Singapore Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry as we take the safety and health of all our partners, stakeholders, exhibitors, speakers and visitors at utmost importance.

We thank you for all your support, cooperation and patience while we try our best to navigate through this international calamity, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused due to these measures.

Yours sincerely,
ADEX Asia Dive Expo
Organising Committee

Dear esteemed exhibitor,

The organising committee of ADEX Asia Dive Expo have been monitoring the situation in Singapore closely in relation to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). We would like to assure you that we are taking this matter firmly and are working closely with the relevant government advisories of Singapore with the latest updates on the current situation.

As of Friday, February 7, 2020, the Singapore Government has raised the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level to ORANGE code, which means “moderate disruption” and the Ministry of Health Singapore has mandated that there is yet no evidence of widespread community transmission in Singapore and ongoing events are planned with added precautions which is in line with the latest advisory from Singapore Ministry of Health.

ADEX Ocean Vision 2020 in Singapore on April 17-19 at Suntec Singapore will continue as planned. If the situation worsen and the Singapore government and the Ministry of Health have raised the DORSCON level to the “RED” code, the event would then be advised to a postponement and a deferment to a later date. As an organising committee of ADEX, we will then provide all our esteemed stakeholders, partners, exhibitors, speakers and visitors an extensive detail on an alternative action plans.

We will continue to work in partnership with the relevant government authorities and agencies and take all necessary measures in accordance with the latest advisories published by the Singapore Ministry of Health and the Singapore Tourism Board.

We will be updating the regular updates on the ADEX website in the coming days, with further information and answers to any questions you might have. For more information on DORSCON “Orange“ code, please visit https://www.gov.sg/article/what-do-the-different-dorscon-levelsmean

Statement from Singapore Tourism Board

“We are working closely with Underwater360° to support the continued success of Asia Dive Expo. We are committed to standing by our MICE industry to provide the support required, and we believe that Singapore’s reputation as a preferred destination for MICE events remains strong. The health and safety of locals, visitors and industry partners remain a priority and we will continue to monitor the situation,”

Mr Andrew Phua, Director of Exhibitions and Conferences, Singapore Tourism Board.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
ADEX Asia Dive Expo
Organising Committee