Higher attendance expected at Asia Outdoor
Despite the economic slowdown, organisers of Asia Outdoor claim exhibitor applications are up 30% compared with the number registered at this point last year. The fair runs July 30 to August 2 in Nanjing, China.
Organisers believe the increase is linked to the country’s relative stability, claiming that official statistics show industrial production in China rose 8.3% and retail sales increased by 14.7% in the first quarter.
The outdoor sector also appears to be bucking the trend. According to the China Outdoor Commerce Alliance, specialty retail sales of outdoor products in 2008 totalled RMB 3.8 billion ($550 million) in 2008, up 30% compared with 2007.
Despite this, co-founder of the fair, Knut Jaeger, says that recent consumer and stockist surveys have shown slightly more conservative purchasing behaviour among active outdoor enthusiasts. However, he says industry experts are forecasting a $1 billion sales breakthrough for 2009. “That would correspond to a growth in sales of over 10% – in what’s considered to be a year of economic crisis,” he explained.
