After a standstill of almost two years, all Corona restrictions no longer apply at German trade fairs. As of April 7, 2023 all COVID-19 restrictions of any kind will come to an end in Germany..
Hygiene concepts at trade fairs in Germany
Trade fairs are business platforms where comprehensive hygiene concepts can be implemented to protect the health of all trade fair participants. More information on hygiene concepts at trade fairs in Germany can be found here.
Entry requirements for trade fair participants from abroad
Trade fair participants from abroad can enter Germany without any COVID-19 related restrictions. Detailed information on entry requirements for exhibitors and visitors from abroad is available
here. Also no restrictions apply on accommodation and public transport
here.
Trade fairs in Germany
For the first time since the beginning of the Corona pandemic, Germany has a complete trade fair year ahead of it. Around 340 trade fairs are planned between Husum and Friedrichshafen in 2023, including major international trade fairs that took several years off due to the pandemic. While a large part of the economic sectors in Germany expect lower production in 2023, most trade fair organisers anticipate higher sales. However, expectations were very low a year ago. Due to the ban on events in the 1st quarter of 2022, only 280 trade fairs could take place, 130 were cancelled. After the reopening of trade fairs in April 2022, more than 7.2 million visitors and more than 142,000 exhibitors participated in German trade fairs.
Exhibitions remain the platform for exhibitors and visitors to acquire new customers and present the latest products and technologies. Live at the trade show, all senses are addressed, challenged and stimulated. If you haven't been to your industry trade fair, you're missing out. You can get all the information on the the Restart of the trade fair industry here.
AUMA offers the dates of the next trade fairs in Germany in its trade fair database at https://www.auma.de/en/exhibit/find-your-exhibitions?typ=nmd - both of real trade fairs and of digital formats. Further information on trade fairs in Germany and abroad is available from the respective organiser.
Consequences of Corona-related trade fair cancellations
The cancellation of exhibitions does not only result in losses for those directly involved such as organisers, exhibitors, visitors and service providers, but also has serious macroeconomic consequences. Among others, the hotel industry, gastronomy, transport industry, etc. are affected. According to calculations by the Institute of the German Trade Fair Industry, the overall economic losses due to the cancellation of exhibitions amount to 60 billion euros. 10 billion euros in tax revenue are lost to the treasury.
Further information: Current analysis of the German Ifo Institute for Economic Research
Economic aid granted by the German Federal Government
The cancellation of trade fairs in Germany and other corona-related measures to restrict contacts have resulted in serious losses for many companies in the trade fair and event industry. For this reason, the German Federal Government has been providing support measures, which are being successively supplemented and increased.
