The organisers of the Malta International Trade Fair believe that a number of factors, coupled with the new venue, contributed to a decrease of 30,000 in the number of visitors and the drop in business reported by close to half the exhibitors.

The organisers were reacting to a survey conducted by the research unit of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU among 97 of the 174 exhibitors, which revealed that 48 per cent of respondents claimed to have fared worse than they did last year, 36 per cent said their sales equalled last year's and 16 per cent said they performed better.

Asked why they thought they had done worse this year, most of the respondents who reported a drop in sales blamed the lower attendance due to the new venue, the hot weather, the fact that customers have less spending money and the parking problem to go to the fair. Others blamed the electricity surcharge and the negative advertising by those businesses that decided not to participate in this year's trade fair.

The businessmen said there was fierce competition and there were others methods of purchasing goods nowadays, including over the internet.

Those who reported an increase in sales said this was due to the fact that they had advertised more, there was an increase in demand for their products and the venue was better. Others said they had a bigger stand, that there was less competition and that their stand was well placed.

Replying to a question about the new venue, 43 per cent said it was worse than the Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar, 37 per cent said it was better and 20 per cent saw no difference.

They complained about the management of the new venue and about the entertainment offered.

The respondents said the opening times should be changed and the trade fair should open later and stay open longer in order to beat the heat.

Commenting on the results, GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said the performance of the exhibitors this year was difficult to measure and compare because of a number of new aspects that were not there in previous years. The new location, the new design of the stands, the fact that part of it was air-conditioned and the parking difficulties experienced by some made it a different trade fair to previous years.

There were a number of exhibitors who did not participate this year because of the increased costs, both to rent out the space and also the costs incurred to set up and dismantle the stand.

MFCC chairman Paul Abela said that being the first time in a new venue with a new concept, 70,000 visitors compares well to the 100,000 who visited the trade fair in previous years. The figure also compares well when considering the 50 tumuli less of exhibition space at Ta' Qali.

With regard to future editions, Mr Abela said he is confident that next year's trade fair will be bigger and better. He said the exhibitors who participated this year did not even expect such a good turnout.