The Bavarian state government has confirmed its plans to restart trade fairs in Bavaria beginning on 1 September 2021. The restart decision has been welcomed by the local industry and trade fair booking numbers for the autumn in Nuremberg give further reason for optimism.
Rigorous hygiene and event admittance concepts and more travel freedom are all making it possible for events to take place in the autumn.
Bavaria’s economy minister Hubert Aiwanger emphasised the importance of trade fairs for the economy: “Trade fairs are not only a shop window to the world, but are also the best economic programme and are urgently needed. The restart of the Bavarian trade fair industry can make a crucial contribution to getting over the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic in many sectors”.
That would apply in particular to the many sectors that are directly dependent on trade fairs in Bavaria where a sense of relief is palpable among businesses hit hard in the last 15 months.
“Trade fairs and congresses are responsible for purchasing power effects equal to €1bn just in the Nuremberg metropolitan region,” said Nuremberg’s mayor Marcus König.
Peter Ottmann, CEO of the NürnbergMesse Group, said: “The decision of the Bavarian state government to hold out the prospect of restarting trade fairs beginning on 1 September is an important milestone for us, our customers, and all those in the Nuremberg metropolitan region who depend on trade fairs and congresses. We will do everything possible to ensure that trade fairs in Bavaria and Germany are among the very best in the world again.”
Dr Roland Fleck, CEO NürnbergMesse Group added: “On the basis of a coherent hygiene and access concept, we will create a protective atmosphere in Nuremberg, one that allows for the safe interaction of exhibitors and visitors.” The first test for the new hygiene concept will be the Trendset trade fair in July. Minister Aiwanger expressed the importance of preserving Bavaria’s leading position in the worldwide trade fair business. “It is therefore important to give trade fair organisers, exhibitors, and visitors planning certainty for the successful resumption of trade fair operations.”
Confidence appears to be returning with 600 exhibitors already registered for the packaging technology exhibition FACHPACK, which will be held 28-30 September. Organisers report that exhibitor registrations for it-sa, Europe’s biggest IT security trade fair, which will be in Nuremberg 12-14 October 2021, have already reached the level of 2017. The in-person trade fairs will be complemented by a diverse online programme in which exhibitors and visitors can make use of matchmaking tools and engage in networking also outside of the trade fair times. These online events include myFACHPACK and it-sa 365.
Photo: Heiko Stahl
