Slight increase in visitors

Visitor attendance figures that were slightly up, and a perceptible fall on the exhibitor side are the end result of Spoga+Gafa 2013, which came to an end yesterday. During the three days of the fair 36 800 visitors registered, or 1.4 per cent more than last year. By contrast, the number of exhibitors was eight per cent down to a total of 1 817. Of these, 82 per cent came from abroad (2012: 81 per cent). Altogether 58 countries were represented at the event. The share of visitors from abroad (113 countries altogether) remained unchanged at 58 per cent. Organisers Koelnmesse call this a good result. “This year Spoga+Gafa has once more confirmed its role as the world’s international garden fair,” explained Katharina C. Hamma, managing director of Koelnmesse. John W. Herbert, general manager of the European DIY Retail Association (EDRA), also confirmed the fair’s positive international acceptance: “The total of 110 top buyers present means we were again able to increase the number on last year’s result. We are especially happy that these included a great number of new visitors.”