UFI has released new data on the exhibition industry today (20 May) which has revealed the industry is recovering to pre-pandemic levels. Globally, 32,000 exhibitions were held in 2024 – “a similar number to pre-pandemic levels”, according to UFI.
Further research from Global Exhibitors and Visitors Insights / Net Promoter Score highlighted satisfaction rates also reached the pre-pandemic levels (+10 and +31 points for visitors, and +20 and + 29 points for exhibiting companies).
In 2024, 4.7 million exhibiting companies drew 318 million visitors worldwide, generating €368 billion ($398 billion) in economic impact for host regions and supporting 4.3 million jobs.
The global exhibitions industry now generates €368 billion in total economic impact, according to UFI and Oxford Economics. This includes both direct spending (€150 billion) from organising exhibitions and visitor activity, and broader effects on sectors like hotels, restaurants, and transport. Since 2019, direct spending has grown by nearly 4% a year. Overall, exhibitions support €215 billion in global GDP and 4.3 million full-time jobs. The numbers highlight the industry’s growing importance to local and global economies.
Europe led in visitor numbers with 102 million, followed by North America (89 million) and Asia-Pacific (84 million). However, exhibition space use has slightly declined or remained flat in most regions since 2019.
Direct spending by organisers, exhibitors and visitors reached €150 billion. When including wider economic effects, the sector supported €215 billion in GDP and 4.3 million jobs.
On average, each exhibiting company contributed €78,800 to the economy, while every square metre of space brought in €8,500.
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