- In 2022, a total of 422 trade fairs were held with almost 6 million visitors and 49,300 exhibitors, with an economic impact of 13 billion euros.
Madrid, 6 June 2023 – The members of the Spanish Trade Fair Association and the trade fair sector as a whole are celebrating the eighth edition of Global Exhibitions Day (GED) or International Trade Fair Day on Wednesday 7 June. This is an initiative promoted by UFI-The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the main world association of the sector, with headquarters in Paris, which brings together companies, organisations, entities and professionals from more than 100 countries every year. AFE is a member of UFI, as are 65 other national and regional associations, which support it in their spheres of influence.
This Global Exhibitions Day aims, above all, to promote knowledge and perception of the relevance and economic and social repercussion of trade fair activity. This year’s GED campaign focuses on the message: “We run the meeting places and marketplaces for everyone”.
Other messages associated with the GED are: “We serve the economic sectors by facilitating contacts between exhibitors and visitors so that they can showcase products and services, conduct contacts and business and enhance their visibility and promotion. Sectors need events for their development”; “Events also generate strong economic and social benefits in the territories where they are held, in terms of jobs and tax revenues; and, in terms of the environment, “Trade fairs are a sustainable way of doing business”.
The president of AFE, Xabier Basañez, said “Coinciding with the Global Exhibitions Day, it is a satisfaction for us to make public the positive data of 2022 of the members of our association. On this occasion, we want to stress the importance of trade fairs as irreplaceable communication and marketing tools and essential for the growth of multiple economic sectors. We join so many professionals from many countries who, like us, are also celebrating this special date for the trade fair industry at the 8th edition of the GED”. AFE, like other equivalent trade fair associations around the world, has been disseminating messages and infographics about Global Exhibitions Day through its website and on social media for weeks.
The members of the association, as in previous years, have adhered to this communication campaign and have programmed different activities to commemorate this day and celebrate it with professionals from other countries and regions: videos recorded for the occasion, sending newsletters and press releases, internal staff events to analyse areas for improvement, mini-campaigns on social networks, banners on the website, institutional statements, group photos with images of the GED, and raffles, among others. Feria de Valladolid informs us that they will pay tribute to the Feria de Medina del Campo, as a forerunner of today’s trade fairs, with a visit to the Museo de las Ferias in Medina del Campo. And coinciding with the celebration of this important day for the sector, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, has sent us some statements in favour and recognition of the trade fair industry, for which we are very grateful:
“On the celebration of International Trade Fair Day, I would like to express my support for the promotion of trade fairs for their economic and social impact. They are meeting and exhibition spaces full of opportunities to connect people and promote business growth. In Spain, our trade fairs are recognised worldwide for their long tradition and unrivalled experience. They attract companies from diverse sectors, providing them with the perfect platform to showcase new products and services, as well as adapting to changing market needs. We cannot overlook the vital role that trade fairs play in our cities and on our streets as true drivers of economic and social promotion, where companies connect, trends are discovered and opportunities are realised. On this special day, I would like to congratulate all those involved in trade fairs, from exhibiting companies to visitors and organisers. Your passion and dedication make our fairs a resounding success. May this Trade Fair Day be full of innovation and great achievements”.
The Spanish trade fair market
As far as the activity of the members of the Spanish Trade Fair Association is concerned, the figures for the trade fairs held in 2022 are as follows, already comparable to those of the pre-pandemic years:
- Total number of trade fairs held: 422 (255 in 2021)
- Number of registered exhibitors: 49,300 (+83.3% compared to 2021).
- Total net floor space occupied by exhibitors: 3.55 million m2 (+91.1%).
- Total number of visitors: 5.96 million (+88.4%).
- Other registered virtual visitors: 746,000 (225,000 in 2021).
On the other hand, the data relating to the impact of the Spanish trade fair market as a whole are as follows:
- Economic impact: 13,000 million euros (direct, indirect and induced production).
- Contribution to GDP: 6,500 million euros (direct, indirect and induced GDP).
- Direct and indirect jobs generated by trade fair activity: 123,000.
These figures alone show the outstanding importance of the trade fair sector in terms of economic impact and employment generation. The association foresees an excellent 2023 in terms of trade fairs held and other indicators, as we have been observing through our members’ communications throughout Spain week after week.
We note that trade fairs still do not receive the appreciation and attention that we believe they deserve, despite the fact that they are essential tools for companies in different economic sectors, while having a high impact on the regions in which they are held, positively affecting a wide variety of activities and generating employment and wealth, which is something we want to highlight on the occasion of Global Exhibitions Day.
The global trade fair market
To confirm the importance of the sector’s activity, we recall the main figures calculated by Oxford Economics and published by UFI regarding the world trade fair market:
- Trade fairs: 32,000 per year
- Exhibitors: 4.8 million
- Visitors: 353 million
- Net floor space occupied: 143 million square meters
- Impact: 299,000 million euros (direct, indirect and induced production)
- Contribution to GDP: 179,000 million euros (direct, indirect and induced GDP)
- Direct and indirect jobs generated by the trade fair activity: 3.4 million
The Spanish Trade Fair Association, a non-profit organisation that was set up in 1964, currently has 35 associate members and represents the trade fair sector in Spain and internationally. In terms of trade fair activity, Spain is among the leading countries in Europe, along with Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
More information about the GED: www.globalexhibitionsday.org
About Easyfairs
Easyfairs organises events that become meeting points for communities wishing to visit the future.
It currently manages 200 face-to-face events in 14 countries (Algeria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) and operates eight exhibition venues in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden (Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen-North Brussels, Namur, Gorinchem, Hardenberg, Malmö and Stockholm).
With the aim of increasing the return on time and investment of its clients, Easyfairs offers different solutions through all-in formulas, advanced technology and customer-centric strategy. Its digital offering also provides excellent opportunities for effective networking and year-round business.
The Easyfairs Group employs 700 highly engaged talents, implements best-in-class marketing and technology tools and develops brands with strong stakeholder appeal.
In 2018, it was named “Entrepreneur of the Year®” in Belgium and was recognised as “Best Managed Company” by Deloitte and “Great Place to Work”. For the fourth consecutive year, in 2022, Deloitte again awarded Easyfairs the status of “Best Managed Company”. In addition, the company is ranked 17th in the list of the world’s leading trade fair organisers.
Website: www.easyfairsgroup.com.
For more information, please contact
Easyfairs Communications Agency
Javier Martinez
Tel. +34 915 77 92 72
