The return of the trade fair industry cements its role as a driver of economic recovery
Fira de Barcelona joins in the seventh edition of Global Exhibitions Day
Today, 1 June, marks the seventh edition of Global Exhibitions Day, an initiative of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), the global association of trade fair operators. This seventh edition takes place in a year of optimism thanks to the return of an industry that is once again demonstrating the relevance of its contribution to the rebounding economic activity worldwide.
Fira de Barcelona once again joins this annual celebration in a 2022 marked by the gradual return of normal trade fair activity following the pandemic. It has again proven itself to be an economic and social driving force by holding highly successful trade fairs such as Alimentaria, Barcelona Bridal Week, B-Travel, Ensenyament, Mobile World Congress, Seafood, ISE, IOT Solutions World Congress, Hispack and Graphispag at the Gran Vía and Montjuïc venues, along with a large number of medical congresses and professional and cultural events at the Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB).
Fira is also preparing an intense schedule of events for the second half of the year, including the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress, Liber, Boat Show, Biz Barcelona, Gastronomic Forum and Smart City Expo World Congress, all of which are among the over 150 events on the agenda for the current year.
“The trade fair industry is rapidly and steadily returning to pre-pandemic levels and although there is still some way to go, we are seeing that professionals from many sectors are keen to meet again, do business and share innovation and knowledge,” says the general manager of Fira de Barcelona, Constantí Serrallonga. “After a challenging period, the events industry is more prepared than ever to once again become a driving force for economic recovery, internationalisation and social impact.”
Under normal circumstances, the contribution of Fira’s activity to the Catalan economy is estimated at over 4.7 billion euros each year, the creation of 35,000 direct and indirect jobs, and 971 million euros in tax revenue, according to a study by the Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB) at the University of Barcelona.
Meanwhile, the UFI has noted that the return of trade fair activity worldwide is swift and strong, which allows for greater optimism going forward. The international association estimates that the activity over 4.8 million exhibiting companies take part in events around the globe, that the economic impact of the tradeshow industry reaches 299 billion euros each year and that it creates 3.4 million direct and indirect jobs.
Barcelona, 1st June 2022
Press Office Fira Barcelona
Tel. 34 93 22226 59 – 21 67
prensa@firabarcelona.com