The eighth edition of the Global Exhibitions Day will consolidate the economic and social relevance of the exhibition sector

Wednesday June 7, 2023

An initiative promoted by UFI-The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the main global association of the sector, based in Paris, which brings together companies, organizations, entities and professionals from more than 100 countries every year.

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Members of the Association of Spanish Fairs and the fair sector as a whole, celebrate on Wednesday, June 7, the eighth edition of the Global Exhibitions Day (GED) or International Day of Fairs. This is an initiative promoted by UFI-The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the main global association of the sector, based in Paris, which brings together companies, organizations, entities and professionals from more than 100 countries every year. AFE is a member of UFI, as well as 65 other national and regional associations, which support it in their areas of influence.

 

This celebration of Global Exhibitions Day aims, above all, to promote knowledge and perception of the relevance and economic and social impact of trade fair activity. In this edition, the GED campaign revolves especially around a message: “We run the meeting places and marketplaces for everyone.” Other messages associated with the GED are: “We serve the economic sectors by facilitating the contacts between exhibitors and visitors so that they can display products and services, carry out contacts and business and enhance their notoriety and promotion. The sectors need events for their development”; “The events also generate strong economic and social benefits in the territories where they are held, in terms of jobs and tax revenues; and, in environmental matters, “Fairs are a sustainable way of doing business.”

El president of AFE, Xabier Basañez, has stated “Coinciding with Global Exhibitions Day, it is a satisfaction for us to make public the positive 2022 data of the members of our association. On this occasion, we want to emphasize 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 numerous countries who also celebrate this special date for the exhibition industry like us in 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 for weeks through its website and social networks. The members of the association, as in previous years, have joined this communication campaign and have scheduled 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 analyze areas of improvement, mini-campaigns on social networks, banners on the web, institutional statements, group photos with GED images, and raffles , among other. From the Fair of Valladolid They report that they will pay tribute to the Medina del Campo Fair, as a precursor to the current trade fairs, through a visit to the Fair Museum of said town.

 

And coinciding with the celebration of this important day for the sector, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Hector Gomez, has sent some statements in favor and recognition of the fair industry, which we especially appreciate:

“In celebration of International Fair Day, I want to express my support for the promotion of trade fairs for their economic and social impact. Meeting and exhibition spaces full of opportunities to connect people and promote business growth.

 

The Spanish fair market

 

Regarding the activity of the members of the Association of Spanish Fairs, the data corresponding to the fairs held in 2022 are the following, already comparable to those of the pre-pandemic years:

 

– Total number of fairs held: 422 (255 in 2021).

– Number of registered exhibitors: 49.300 (+83,3% compared to 2021).

– Total net area 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 fair market as a whole are:

o Economic impact: 13.000 million. of euros (direct, indirect and induced production).

o Contribution to GDP: 6.500 million. of euros (direct, indirect and induced GDP).

o Direct and indirect jobs generated by the fair activity: 123.000.

 

The figures themselves show the outstanding importance of the exhibition sector in terms of economic impact and job creation. The association foresees an excellent 2023 in terms of fairs held and other indicators, as has been confirmed through the statements of its members throughout Spain week after week.