Trade fairs in Cologne induced nationwide turnover of €1.7 billion in 2003

The Cologne fairs achieved a turnover of €1.7 billion nationwide and accounted for a total of 18,330 jobs. This is the result of a study on the economic importance of the Cologne fairs for the Cologne area, the state of North-Rhine Westphalia and the German Federal Republic carried out by the Ifo Institute for Kölnmesse GmbH. Those profiting most were restaurants and hotels, which accounted for 31% of the jobs. The next areas were the trades and trade-fair-related services at 28%. Approximately 8% of the jobs linked to the Cologne fairs are in retailing. The conference and event activities of KölnKongress GmbH generated a nationwide turnover of €294 million with 3,350 associated jobs in the same year. The tax revenue from the trade fairs and conferences amounted to €348 million. These results demonstrate that the Cologne fairs and conferences have an important economic and employment effect, especially in the Cologne area, where the majority of turnover and employment occurred, but also in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia and to a lesser extent in the rest of Germany.