The trade fair industry recorded almost seven million visitors in the first half of the year. According to the industry, there could have been even more if there had not been a strike at the railways in the spring.
The trade fair industry looks back on the first half of the financial year with satisfaction. Around 6.7 million visitors visited almost 190 trade fairs in the first six months of this year, according to the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA). That was one percent more than in the same period last year.
The number of exhibitors increased significantly, by seven percent to around 120,000 exhibiting companies. In addition, the trade fairs became larger again. The exhibition space also increased by seven percent to a total of around 4.2 million square meters.
The trade fair year had started under difficult circumstances due to several strikes at Deutsche Bahn. Around 50 trade fairs were affected, the association said. On average, they were able to welcome eleven percent fewer guests than at the previous event due to the strikes.
“The internationality of our exhibitors and visitors has rarely been higher,” said Auma Chairman Philip Harting. “And after the international and national trade fairs in this country, the many regional trade fairs are now also recovering after the blow of the corona pandemic.”
Source: Stern
