First signs of recovery in Germany as a trade fair location: at least 340 trade fairs are planned between Husum and Friedrichshafen in 2023. This means that almost a quarter more trade fairs are to take place in the new year than were possible in Germany this year.
In the first quarter of 2023 alone, there are a good 120 trade fairs on the calendar – in 2022 only 18 trade fairs could be held in the same period due to bans. Energy efficiency, circular economy and innovative production technologies are the top topics at German trade fairs in 2023.
Philip Harting, Chairman of the umbrella organization of the German trade fair industry AUMA: “The trade fair industry in Germany is slowly finding its rhythm again. Two years of trade fair bans are still weighing heavily on the industry, which is responsible for 230,000 jobs. We expect the support of the Federal Minister of Economics, no new obstacles. The exhibition industry is helped a lot with stability. Then 2023 can be the first better year since the beginning of the corona pandemic. Then trade fairs can play to their strengths as part of the solution to many problems. Then Germany will once again live up to its reputation as a top location for trade fairs. However, concerns about affordable energy are clouding the first outlook for the new year.” The AUMA projection for 2022 shows that 65 percent of the visitors have returned to the German exhibition grounds. Until the summer, the average number was still a good 55 percent of the pre-corona level. The numbers have been increasing since the fall. The situation is similar for exhibitors: On average, 70 percent are back at the trade fairs over the year – with an upward trend since autumn.
Due in particular to the trade fair bans in the first quarter, the overall economic positive effects of the trade fair industry this year will be only 55 percent of the pre-Corona years according to the first figures. In 2019, the industry contributed 28 billion euros to the economic plus.
According to provisional figures from AUMA, 280 trade fairs will have taken place in Germany in 2022, 130 were canceled and 60 had to be rescheduled within the year. The overall economic damage caused by bans, postponements and cancellations of trade fairs has amounted to more than 56 billion euros in Germany since the beginning of the corona pandemic and nine billion euros less tax revenue. Almost 180,000 jobs had to be secured through short-time work.