To quantify the economic significance of exhibitions globally, Oxford Economics has prepared a comprehensive model of global exhibition activity that references recent studies on their economic significance. The results of this study show the scope of the global exhibition sector in terms of direct spending and jobs, as well as the total impacts of exhibitions on the broader economy.
As part of this analysis, Oxford Economics took the following steps:
• Analysed existing data on exhibitions maintained by UFI, including net square meters sold, visitors, and exhibitors;
• Analysed historic data on the exhibition industry maintained by UFI and referenced published studies on exhibition impacts in 13 countries, as well as third-party industry data across more than 180 countries;
• Developed an econometric model of the relationship between economic and travel-industry data sets and exhibition industry impacts to estimate exhibition activity in countries in which the exhibition industry has not been previously quantified; and
• Combined the results of existing studies and modelled relationships to prepare global estimates. Previous country-level analyses of exhibition activity accounted for more than three-quarters of the estimated global total, providing a solid research foundation.
This document presents key elements of the research and findings. It is organised in four sections:
1. Exhibition industry metrics and direct spending
2. Economic impact analysis
3. Methods
4. Industry comparisons
Direct impacts of exhibitions (2019)
• Number of exhibitions, visitors & exhibitors
In 2019, exhibitions directly involved nearly 353 million visitors and nearly five million exhibitors across more than 180 countries.
• Direct spending (business sales)
Exhibitions generated more than €125.6 ($140.7) billion of direct spending by visitors, exhibitors and additional exhibitions-related expenditures.
• Direct GDP (gross domestic product) and employment
Exhibitions supported 1.4 million direct jobs globally and generated €73.5
($82.3) billion of direct GDP.
• Based on approximately 4.8 million exhibitors worldwide and €125.6 ($140.7) billion of direct spending, exhibitions generated approximately €26,400 ($29,600) in direct spending per exhibitor on a global basis.
• Based on its €73.5 ($82.3) billion direct GDP impact, the exhibitions sector would rank as the 71st largest economy globally
Total impacts of global exhibitions (2019)
After accounting for indirect and induced impacts, exhibitions supported a total global economic impact in 2019 of:
• €298.7 ($334.5) billion of total output (business sales)
• 3.4 million total jobs
• €179.3 ($200.7) billion of GDP (representing a contribution to global gross domestic product)
Based on a total economic impact of €298.7 ($334.5) billion and a global total of 39.65 million sqm of capacity (as reported in the UFI World Map of Exhibition Venues 2022), total output per sqm of capacity amounted to approximately €7,500 ($8,400) in 2019.
Global exhibitions directly generated more output (business sales) than many large global sectors, including machine tools and medical & surgical equipment.
The €179.3 ($200.7) billion of total GDP supported by the global exhibitions sector would rank the sector as the 55th largest economy globally, larger than the economies of countries such as Hungary, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Greece, and Ecuador.
To quantify the economic significance of exhibitions globally, Oxford Economics has prepared a comprehensive model of global exhibition activity that references recent studies on their economic significance. The results of this study show the scope of the global exhibition sector in terms of direct spending and jobs, as well as the total impacts of exhibitions on the broader economy.
As part of this analysis, Oxford Economics took the following steps:
• Analysed existing data on exhibitions maintained by UFI, including net square meters sold, visitors, and exhibitors;
• Analysed historic data on the exhibition industry maintained by UFI and referenced published studies on exhibition impacts in 13 countries, as well as third-party industry data across more than 180 countries;
• Developed an econometric model of the relationship between economic and travel-industry data sets and exhibition industry impacts to estimate exhibition activity in countries in which the exhibition industry has not been previously quantified; and
• Combined the results of existing studies and modelled relationships to prepare global estimates. Previous country-level analyses of exhibition activity accounted for more than three-quarters of the estimated global total, providing a solid research foundation.
This document presents key elements of the research and findings. It is organised in four sections:
1. Exhibition industry metrics and direct spending
2. Economic impact analysis
3. Methods
4. Industry comparisons
Direct impacts of exhibitions (2019)
• Number of exhibitions, visitors & exhibitors
In 2019, exhibitions directly involved nearly 353 million visitors and nearly five million exhibitors across more than 180 countries.
• Direct spending (business sales)
Exhibitions generated more than €125.6 ($140.7) billion of direct spending by visitors, exhibitors and additional exhibitions-related expenditures.
• Direct GDP (gross domestic product) and employment
Exhibitions supported 1.4 million direct jobs globally and generated €73.5
($82.3) billion of direct GDP.
• Based on approximately 4.8 million exhibitors worldwide and €125.6 ($140.7) billion of direct spending, exhibitions generated approximately €26,400 ($29,600) in direct spending per exhibitor on a global basis.
• Based on its €73.5 ($82.3) billion direct GDP impact, the exhibitions sector would rank as the 71st largest economy globally
Total impacts of global exhibitions (2019)
After accounting for indirect and induced impacts, exhibitions supported a total global economic impact in 2019 of:
• €298.7 ($334.5) billion of total output (business sales)
• 3.4 million total jobs
• €179.3 ($200.7) billion of GDP (representing a contribution to global gross domestic product)
Based on a total economic impact of €298.7 ($334.5) billion and a global total of 39.65 million sqm of capacity (as reported in the UFI World Map of Exhibition Venues 2022), total output per sqm of capacity amounted to approximately €7,500 ($8,400) in 2019.
Global exhibitions directly generated more output (business sales) than many large global sectors, including machine tools and medical & surgical equipment.
The €179.3 ($200.7) billion of total GDP supported by the global exhibitions sector would rank the sector as the 55th largest economy globally, larger than the economies of countries such as Hungary, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Greece, and Ecuador.
.webp)