Editor’s note: This item is republished with permission from Global Edge Marketing Ltd. The original post can be viewed here.
Visitor numbers to some of Europe’s biggest overseas property shows have risen significantly compared with last year.
Fair Media, organizers of the largest overseas property shows in Sweden and Norway, have run three events so far in 2010 with numbers up between 5 percent and 15 percent across their shows in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmoe.
In Denmark, the market leading exhibition, the "Homes Abroad" show, is reporting numbers up over 20 percent compared with the autumn of 2009, while in Russia, AiGroup says attendance is up 4 percent for their property investment show, which took place earlier in the month.
Fair Media chief executive Sven Kallstrom says there has also been a big decline in the number of window shoppers attending the exhibitions.
"Last year, a lot of people were attending the shows but not really buying. The biggest change has been the number of really good leads that exhibitors have received. Last year companies were getting 20 or so, this year it’s been around double that."
Explaining the change, Kallstrom says: "The main reason is the improving economies in Norway and Sweden and strengthening of the Swedish krona against the euro. It also helped that we ran (fewer) shows in 2009, which meant there was pent-up demand."
Key test this week for the U.K. market
Although the major United Kingdom portals have been reporting a strong start to the year in terms of traffic and inquiry volumes, many in the industry will view "A Place in the Sun Live," which begins on Friday, as the key barometer of the strength of the U.K. market.
Andy Bridge, managing director of APITS Ltd is confident the show will meet expectations.
"Ticket sales are up 12 percent on the Birmingham show [held in October 2009] and we have had 14,000 free ticket downloads, which were distributed through our affiliate partners. We would be very disappointed if we did not match the numbers we achieved last year."
Overseas property markets across the continent look to be improving, but only when seen in contrast to 2009, which was arguably the worst year on record for the industry.
Copyright © 2010 Global Edge Marketing Ltd.
***
What’s your opinion? Leave your comments below or send a letter to the editor.
