GERMANY - The German trade fair industry will see gradual recovery from the recession in 2011, according to a report by the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA).
Over a quarter (27%) of exhibitors surveyed plan to increase their expenditure in 2011, while only 16 per cent are planning cuts.
International exhibitor numbers in 2010 saw a slight increase on 2009, while domestic exhibitor numbers continued a slow decline.
Visitor numbers continued to decline in 2010, although at a slower rate, the AUMA report noted. While 2009 saw an eight per cent decline, 2009 saw a loss of only two per cent of visitors.
AUMA Chairman Hans-Joachim Boekstegers said: “Companies continue to maintain tight control of trade fair spending. Exhibitors pay close attention to which trade fairs really benefit their aims, and want to be in control of costs when sales recover after the lean period in the last recession.”
Planned budget increases seem mostly confined to larger companies, according to the survey. One-third of companies with an turnover of more than €50m (US$66m) say they intend to spend more on trade fairs, while only one quarter of smaller companies plan to do so.
The number of trade fairs organised by German companies, but held outside Germany, rose in 2010 to 231 from 211 in 2009, a figure that is due to continue rising with 260 trade fairs scheduled for 2011.
“The path we are on is the right one, but we have not fully recovered in 2010,” added Boekstegers.
AUMA also reported industry recovery in the first six months of 2010.
