UFI, a global association of tradeshow organizers and exhibition center operators, released the results of its 11th Global Barometer survey on the state of the exhibition industry.
Conducted in June 2013, this survey edition was answered by 217 companies from 56 countries. Its results, combined with those of the previous surveys, provide insight into the impact of the economic crisis on the exhibition industry.
For the first time since 2008, the outlook is positive with a majority of companies in all regions declaring increases in turnover. The first half of 2014 is the first period since the survey was initiated where all regions indicate three companies out of four expecting a turnover increase.
“These results indicate a positive outlook across all regions in terms of turnover increase. Exhibitions continue to be an excellent indicator of economic development,” said Paul Woodward, managing director, UFI. “While remaining cautious about the global economic environment, these current survey results are good news for us all.”
Existing since 2010 in Asia/Pacific and in the Americas (with the exception of 2012), this rate was reached in the second half of 2012 in the Middle East and Africa. It is now also anticipated in Europe by the beginning of 2014. This turnover growth does not directly translate into immediate operating profit as fewer than 50 percent of companies in all regions (except the Americas) project a plus 10 percent profit increase as compared to 2012.
For both 2012 and 2013, a slight majority of companies in the Americas have declared an increase of more than 10 percent of their annual profit. The Americas remain the only region to have a majority of respondents declaring that the impact of the economic crisis on their exhibition business is now over.
Of the companies that believe the economic crisis is ongoing, almost 10 percent anticipate its end in 2013, 40 percent in 2014 and another 50 percent in 2015 or later.
The global economic uncertainty and the state of the national/regional economy remain the top issues for a majority of companies.
