UFI, the global association for the exhibition industry, has welcomed the decision by the German government to pave a way for exhibitions and tradeshows in the country to reopen. (See EW story 6 May here.)
In its list of measures on dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Germany has taken the step to segment ‘mass gatherings’, explicitly highlighting out tradeshows and exhibitions as types of events that can be allowed again, the UFI statement notes.
The association points out that, while most types of mass gatherings remain banned in the country until the end of August, the 16 German states now have authority to give the go ahead for tradeshows and exhibitions, based on a number of preconditions being met – like a limitation of participants, and approved health and safety measures. The first German state, North Rhine-Westphalia has decided that it intends to allow topical (i.e. B2B) tradeshows and congresses to run from 30 May if (yet to be specified) conditions are met.
“We are advocating that not all types of events are equal, and it is encouraging to see that this message has reached the government of one of the world’s most important exhibition markets,” says Mary Larkin (pictured), UFI President.
“Every exhibition is an organised event – as an industry, we know how to create conditions where attendees can go about their business while taking the necessary precautions in the age of Covid-19,” she adds.
UFI had published a ‘Global Framework guidance for the safe reopening of exhibitions and B2B trade events’ earlier in the week. Put together by a global task force representing all parts of the exhibitions ecosystem, the document delivers the guidance towards both political decision-makers and health authorities about how we as an industry are able to provide a safe environment in the age of Covid-19.
Globally the exhibition sector generates €68.7 ($81.1) billion in direct GDP and contributes a total economic impact of €275 ($325) billion. This ranks the sector as the 56th largest economy in the world, larger than those of countries such as Hungary, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, and Ecuador.
