III. Benefits of Exhibitions
A. Economic Significance of Exhibitions

Economic functions
The exhibition industry takes over important economic functions. In the exhibition centre supply and demand are brought together. Exhibitions offer an interactive platform to the market participants. They contribute to the development and revival of markets and market segments. Additional economic functions are:

• Trade function: Transactions of goods, services and information
• Transparency function: Market overview
• Development function: Support of commercial development of nations, regions and cities

In many countries the exhibition industry has been, and is still, a political-economic instrument to stimulate the national economy. Nevertheless, the auditing of attendance figures of the exhibitions is not regularly imposed. Only a few of the worldwide exhibitions are audited. Therefore the following figures give only a rough idea about the worldwide significance of the industry.

Extract: "The UFI Code of Ethics is designed to clearly state the dedication to quality and professional conduct of all UFI members. It is a clear statement of UFI's ongoing support for auditing to ensure credibility and transparency in the business activities of trade fairs and exhibitions."

The situation worldwide 2002
(according to UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry)

• approximately 30.000 exhibitions held around the world
• approximately 3,2 million exhibitors participated in the exhibitions
• approximately 350 million visitors came to see the events