Erotica Expo expected to be popular in ChCh

Media release – February 22, 2007

Erotica Expo expected to be popular with mainstream Christchurch people

Up to 15,000 people are expected to attend the three-day Erotica Expo at the Christchurch Convention Centre next week.

Event organiser Sandy Watts said more than 12,000 visited the exhibition last year and many more are tipped to turn up for the March 2-4 event.

``We began the expo seven years ago to target an adult audience in a safe, fun environment. New Zealand was devoid of such an event at the time. Promoting health, well-being, sexuality and accurate information was an exciting step for New Zealand adults.

``People say Christchurch is more conservative than Auckland but we’re expecting a lot more than last year’s 12,000 attendance. We’re appealing to mainstream Christchurch couples.

``The expo seems most popular with all adults but statistics from an independent survey found the majority of our visitors are aged 24 – 44 yrs and visit the expo with their partner.’’

The Auckland event has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers from 13,000 visitors in 2002 to over 27,000 in 2006 and the event averages 53 percent female attendance. Total attendance so far is over 165,000 people since the first show in 2000.

Watts said the expo provided employment, education and brought money into the local community with overseas and out of town visitors.

Clitoraid, a global trust to to help women in third world countries will be onsite to raise awareness and fund raise.

The SPCA, the Animals Asia Foundation (China Bear Rescue) and the Veteran's Trust are other charities which have benefited from previous expos.

ENDS

© Scoop Media