Taets Arts and Events Park in Amsterdam, which will host the Geospatial World Forum 2020.

The organisers of the upcoming Geospatial World Forum (GWF) have announced its cancellation, just a day after rolling out a packed agenda for its plenary day.

Due to take place at the Taets Art and Event Park in Amsterdam over April 7-9, the event’s organisers Geospatial Media cancelled its premier conference overnight, citing the impact of coronavirus COVID-19.

Geospatial Media explained the decision in a note sent to delegates and published on the GWF website:

‘Although there is no travel restriction currently in place in The Netherlands, but with rising cases each day we feel that it would not be responsible of us to proceed with the conference at this time. Additionally, many of our participants across the world are facing travel restrictions imposed by governments and companies to prepare for the outbreak. In the last few days, many of our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and participants have expressed their dismay and disappointment at not being able to join GWF. That was either due to imposed travel restrictions or health concerns. The challenges posed by the spread of this novel virus is becoming apparent and multiplying each day. What is worrisome is, in the words of WHO chief, we are “operating in an uncharted territory”, and don’t have an idea of how severe it could be in the coming times – be it in health or economic terms.‘

Read the full statement at the GWF website.

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