Features

Will camping exhibitions ever be the same again?

David Guest  |  Dec 2, 2020

Throughout the course of 2020, it seems not a week has gone by without news of another industry event or exhibition being postponed or cancelled altogether. The events industry has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, with the idea of thousands of people gathering at an exhibition centre for a prolonged period of time becoming almost impossible in light of restrictions put in place around the world to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Many different organisers around the world have handled things very differently indeed. Some shows managed to plough ahead, albeit with restrictions such as compulsory facemasks, such as Düsseldorf’s Caravon Salon. After attracting more than 100,000 people over its duration, the show was celebrated by organisers. Messe Düsseldorf managing director, Erhard Wienkamp, said: “With 107,000 visitors the CARAVAN SALON sends an important signal for the entire trade fair industry in Germany and Europe. The world's most important trade fair for caravanning convinced with its well thought-out hygiene and infection protection concept.”

Some shows attempted to go down that route but were stopped at the 11th hour – some, in the case of Suisse Caravan Salon, were stopped by their Government halfway through. Jennifer Somm, CEO of the event’s venue BERNEXPO, was left almost without words at the decision. She said: “It is absolutely incomprehensible to have an ongoing trade fair with an approved protection concept forced to close without any prior information after two successful and secure days.

“Of course, health security has for us top priority. We have therefore taken all necessary measures in this regard.  And that's exactly why the decision is incomprehensible to us.”

 

POLL: WHAT DO YOU THINK? WILL YOU ATTEND A SHOW IN 2021?

 

Other shows decided not to attempt to go ahead as normal, and embraced virtual events, such as the Victorian Caravan and Camping Show, which was deemed a success by Caravan Industry Victoria president, Michael Pebbles. He claimed that the virtual show concept was a reflection of the way the world has changed in the last six months and the 67,000 virtual attendees were proof of that.

There were also plenty of events that decided to forget about 2021 altogether and hold off until 2022, such as the UK’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show. John Lally, the CEO of its organiser NCC Events, said: “Whilst the trajectory of the COVID-19 virus is still very much unknown, it is clear that the restrictions – and their impact upon businesses – are likely to be in place for up to six months.

“We do not take this action lightly, but at this time, we feel that it is the only sensible option to safeguard show partners, exhibitors and our visitors from the financial exposure of a late show cancellation.”

None of these options is right or wrong – it is up to show organisers to come up with the solution that works best for their exhibitors and also their audiences. At this stage, it is too early to tell what the future of events will hold, but we do have to ask ourselves the question. Will shows, exhibitions and events remain relevant in a post-Covid world? Will they be necessary? Or will they blend better with technology that we have been forced to use in their absence? Is this the end of the line for exhibitions as we know it?

 

Key dates of shows currently scheduled to take place in 2021:

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