UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, has welcomed a decision by the German government to pave a way for exhibitions and trade shows in the country to reopen.
In its list of measures on dealing with thecurrent COVID-19 pandemic, Germany hastaken the step to segment “mass gatherings”, explicitly highlighting out trade shows andexhibitions as types of events that can beallowed again. While most types of massgatherings remain banned in the country untilthe end of August, the 16 German states nowhave authority to give the go ahead for tradeshows and exhibitions, based on a number ofpreconditions being met – like a limitation ofparticipants, and approved health and safetymeasures.
As the first German state, North Rhine-Westphalia has decided that it intends to allowtopical (i.e. B2B) trade shows and congresses torun from May 30 if (yet to be specified) conditions are met.
“We are advocating that not all types ofevents are equal, and it is encouragingto see that this message has reachedthe government of one of the world’smost important exhibition markets”, says Mary Larkin, UFI President. “Every exhibition is anorganised event – as an industry, weknow how to create conditions whereattendees can go about their businesswhile taking the necessaryprecautions in the age of COVID19.”
Earlier this week, UFI published a “GlobalFramework guidance for the safe reopening ofexhibitions and B2B trade events”. Put togetherwith a global task force representing all parts ofthe exhibitions ecosystem, the documentdelivers the guidance towards both politicaldecision makers and health authorities abouthow we as an industry as able to provide a safeenvironment in the age if COVID-19.
Globally the exhibition sector generates€68.7 ($81.1) billion in direct GDP andcontributes a total economic impact of €275 ($325) billion. This ranks the sector as the56th largest economy in the world, largerthan those of countries such as Hungary, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, and Ecuador.
https://www.ufi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MR_UFI_statement_on_Germany.pdf