EUROPE - German trade fair organisers are cautiously optimistic about the prospects for 2013, according to new figures from the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA).
More than 140 national and international trade fairs are scheduled to take place in the country this year and according to AUMA forecasts, about 165,000 exhibitors will attend this year’s trade fairs, up one per cent on the previous cycle.
Exhibitors’ stand space will also increase slightly, reaching 6.6m sqm, while at 10m visitors, attendance is expected to hold stable.
In particular, relatively strong economic growth in many parts of Asia and South America will result in greater participation in German trade fairs. According to a spokesman, the recession among the larger nations of southern and western Europe has impacted on investment and consumption in Europe, which in turn will particularly affect visitor numbers from these countries.
The spokesman said that if the irregular trade fair intervals are taken into account, turnover expectations are a little higher than the results of 2012, while employee numbers will rise marginally this year and investment levels will remain constant.
An AUMA report released last year shows the number of non-EU countries in Europe attending German trade fair venues rose in 2011.
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