Research
of operations indicated above for the
world, with two notable differences:
• The Asia-Pacific region first faced
a drop in activity: only 73% of
companies declared a “normal” level
in January compared to a minimum
of 85% in all other regions; in
February, the level had already
dropped to 45% in the Asia-Pacific
region.
• The Middle East & Africa, and
to some extent Central and South
America, appear less confident as
to the return to a “normal” level of
activity than in other regions. In
both those regions, a majority of
companies expect that “national”
exhibitions won’t open until 2021.
Other regional results indicate that:
• The revenue drop for all of 2020 is
expected to be slightly higher in the
Middle East & Africa and Central and
South America (respectively only
31% and 33% of last year’s revenue)
than in the Asia-Pacific region (39%)
or Europe and North America (44%
for both)
• In terms of profits, the percentage
of companies expecting a loss for
2020 varies from 34% in the Asia-
Pacific region to 48% in the Middle
East & Africa, and around four
companies out of ten in all other
regions.
Cost reductions and financial
support
Overall, 87% of companies have
been cutting costs, and 17% have cut
more than 50% of their overall costs.
A majority of companies say
they have not received any public
financial support. At the same time,
44% have, and for a majority of
those, it related to less than 10% of
their costs.
While 2020 investments have
been stopped for 44% of companies
globally, with a further 32% of
companies saying they are cutting
back, there are some significant
regional differences:
- Financial public support is less
frequent in the Middle East & Africa
and in North America, where only
27%
Top concerns of
exhibition industry
leaders globally
0%
Impact of
Covid-19
pandemic on
the business
21%
26%
State of
the economy
in home
market
respectively 31% and 38% benefitted
from any.
- 60% of companies have stopped
all their investments in Central and
South America.
Most important business issues
“Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on
the business” is considered as the
most important business issue (27%
of combined answers). Also, for the
first time, “Impact of digitalisation”
(10% of answers) joins the “State
of the economy in home market”
(21%) and “Global economic
developments” (18%) in the top
priorities.
“Internal challenges” and
“Competition from within the
industry”, always in the top four
most important business issues, are
ranked below for this survey, with
respectively 7% (15% six months
ago) and 5% of answers (20% six
months ago).
Notably, “State of the economy in
home market” is ranked as the top
issue in Central and South America,
and the Middle East & Africa.
Format of exhibitions
As far as possible driving trends,
global results indicate that:
• 57% are confident that “Covid-19
18% 19%
Golbal
economic
developments
10%
10%
Impact of
digitalisation
July 2020
January 2020
7%
15%
Internal
challenges
confirms the value of face-to-face
events” anticipating that the sector
will bounce back quickly (19% “Yes,
for sure” and 38% “Most probably”),
but 31% are “Not sure”.
• 56% believe that there will be
“Fewer international ‘physical’
exhibitions, and overall, fewer
participants” (13% “Yes, for sure”
and 44% “Most probably”), and 25%
are “Not sure”.
• 82% of companies consider that
there is “A push towards hybrid
events, more digital elements at
events” (30% “Yes, for sure” and 52%
“Most probably”).
• A minority of 17% agrees with
“Virtual events replacing physical
events” (3% “Yes, for sure” and 14%
“Most probably”), and 20% are “Not
sure”.
There is one significant regional
differentiation:
• “Virtual events replacing physical
events”, with stronger and opposing
views – from Europe, where 80% of
companies disagree, and from North
America, where “only” 50% do.
The 25th UFI Global Exhibition
Barometer survey was conducted in
collaboration with 17 UFI Member
Associations. The full results can be
downloaded from the UFI website.
www.exhibitionworld.co.uk Issue 4 2020 13