Fewer exhibitors and visitors

Spoga+Gafa, which closed in Cologne on 2 September 2008 at the end of a full three days, proved unable to carry on from where the 2006 results left off, in terms of both exhibitor and visitor figures. This year the organisers registered an overall attendance figure of 38 600, including estimates for the final day. This figure was 48 168 in 2006. Exhibitor numbers also tended downwards. Koelnmesse reports that 2 155 suppliers from 57 countries presented their products and services at this year’s event. The figures for 2006 supplied by the organisers today list 2 315 companies from 64 countries. A total of 2 456 suppliers were registered two years ago. The fair did keep up its high level of internationality, with 55 per cent of the trade visitors coming from abroad. According to today’s information, this figure came to 49 per cent two years ago. By contrast, Koelnmesse was talking of 55 per cent in 2006. The proportion of international suppliers remained unchanged at 77 per cent.