Majority to visit trade fair, most will not spend anything

James Debono

With the most exciting world cup matches still being played, it was a slow start for the 49 edition of the Malta International trade fair at Naxxar. But judging by the results of MaltaToday’s July survey most Maltese people will not lose their appointment with this annual event.
The good news for businesses exhibiting their wares is that 54 per cent intend to visit the trade fair grounds in Naxxar by 16 July when the fair comes to a close. But the bad news is that 58 per cent of those attending do not intend to buy anything in particular.
This is an indication that many Maltese consider the trade fair as a family outing rather than an occasion for a shopping spree.

Whether special trade fair offers will be enough to entice people to put their hand in their pocket and dish out the cash is another story altogether. Only 32 per cent of those visiting the trade fair, plan to spend more than Lm50. A further 10 per cent plan to spend less than Lm50. Yet 19 per cent plan to spend more than Lm300, which includes three per cent who plan to spend more than Lm1000.
In previous years the trade fair attracted more than 150,000 visitors-around a third of the Maltese population.
Over the years it has established itself as the major event in the Maltese commercial calendar as a showcase for many Maltese businesses.
The trade fair is more popular among the younger age groups. While 60 per cent of those aged between 18 and 34 years of age intend to visit the trade fair, only 47 per cent of those aged above 55 years will do likewise. Among those aged between 35 and 54 years of age 54 per cent intend to visit the trade fair.
The survey held between Monday 3 and Wednesday 5 July coincided with the first two days of the trade fair.