Final K Show figures–attendance down, buying up

A drop in attendance during the K Show’s final three days resulted in a greater than expected decline in the total attendance figures for the seven-day show. Overall attendance of about 230,000 was about 12 percent below attendance figures for K ’98. However, according to K Show officials, exhibitors were by and large satisfied with the professional calibre of K visitors and the unexpected eagerness to invest. Ninety-one percent of exhibitors were pleased with their participation in K 2001 and 94 percent expect post-show business to result from the show.
Other than Germany, the countries with the largest number of exhibitors were Italy (435 companies) and the U.S. (148 companies). Attendees from Asia increased considerably to 18,000 from only 14,000 at K 98. The largest Asian visitor contingent came from India, with 5,000 attendees. About 6,000 show visitors came from the U.S. and Canada, a decline from K 98, but a considerably smaller decline than anticipated, K officials said.