- Aid packages would be dispensable if the policy was consistent
- The situation is dramatic: the damage in 2021 will be even higher than in 2020
- Five trade fair demands on the federal and state governments
The trade fair industry in Germany is demanding clear trade fair feasibility rules from the new federal government for the start of the year 2022. From today until the beginning of spring, a good 130 trade fairs are planned in Germany. Most of them have a strong international focus. More than a dozen trade fairs for 2022 have already been postponed or even canceled. The reason: inconsistent politics.
- Jörn Holtmeier, Managing Director of the Association of the German Exhibition Industry AUMA: “Aid packages worth billions would be dispensable if the federal and state governments were to provide clarity through forward-looking policies – even in this pandemic. A decision in winter has a pull in summer. Failure to make decisions in the summer will have a double effect in the pandemic winter. The situation is dire. The economic damage in the trade fair industry will be even greater in 2021 than in 2020. “
As of today, trade fairs are again prohibited in three federal states. In some places, trade fairs are no longer economically feasible due to restrictions of all kinds. 71 percent of the planned trade fairs were canceled in 2021, in 2020 it was 68 percent. The overall economic loss has now totaled 46.2 billion euros since the beginning of the pandemic. Last year alone it was minus 21.8 billion euros, and in 2021 there will be at least another 24.4 billion euros in damage.
- Jörn Holtmeier: “Our branch of industry is the hardest hit branch of this pandemic. The trade fair trade fair is currently experiencing its greatest shock. Well-planned trade fair programs have never existed so little. Trade fairs have never had to be absorbed by safeguarding programs. The branches of industry have never been so lacking in their industry and leading trade fairs. “
230,000 jobs depend on the trade fair industry in Germany, 165,000 jobs are endangered by the ups and downs. The return of the international public is the decisive factor for the recovery of the trade fair country Germany as the location for two thirds of all leading trade fairs in the world economy. Economic recovery will only be possible when the international travel restrictions are lifted, the vaccination fence ends and politics make trade fairs possible, explained Holtmeier. “As sorry as we are, we cannot give 100 days of rest. We urge Robert Habeck to act immediately! “
Five demands from the trade fair industry accompany the inauguration of the new Federal Minister of Economics, Robert Habeck:
- The special trade fair fund must be supplemented by a security fund for exhibitors and trade fair service providers. The previous program has come to nothing. Investments by exhibiting companies are not covered.
- Small and medium-sized companies must be given more support: with an independent trade fair domestic funding program of at least 30 million euros in 2023. Funding for young, innovative companies must be expanded.
- The Netherlands and Austria are already showing the way: In Germany, too, people who have already been vaccinated with recognized vaccines of the World Health Organization must be considered vaccinated.
- A concerted action between the German diplomatic missions and the German trade fair industry is needed to promote the international trade fair location. In other countries there are already specific programs to attract international trade visitors to the home market.
- The way out of this pandemic is and remains vaccination. In order to be able to return to stability and predictability, the trade fair industry is emphatically supporting the introduction of the general compulsory vaccination against corona. The sooner the better. You also need a comprehensive corona strategy that is easy to understand for everyone. The accelerated and low-threshold first, second and booster vaccination must be the core. The strategy must be flanked by the consistent implementation and control of state measures.