The good news is that many of the 1,028 exhibitors at Eurobike found it to be very busy. The bad news is that others did not, as many visitors did not use the new east entrance at Friedrichshafen, and thus did not pass by many booths in that area. Overall, the numbers were up: the exhibitors’ numbers were 10 percent higher than last year and there was 15 percent more rented space. There was also a 6 percent increase in attendance, with 39,152 trade visitors from 75 countries going to the show. On Open House Day, 21,000 paying visitors showed up, 17 percent more than at the last show.
Demo Day drew 92 exhibitors and 109 brands, and 1,680 cyclists and 630 journalists tested out racing, electric, recumbent folding and mountain bikes on five different bike routes.
At the Taiwan Products Launch at Eurobike, the deputy director of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (Taitra), Lin-Fen Her, announced the new “Branding Taiwan” program. The program, which has a goal of increasing the competitiveness of the Taiwan economy, will integrate resources to help establish Taiwanese brands and ease development, and help Taiwan businesses with brand development and value.
Also at the Taiwan Products Launch, the chief executive of Giant, Tony Lo, noted that 18 percent of the people in the world ride bicycles – leaving a potential market of 82 percent of the global population. He said that initiatives everywhere have helped increase cycling participation, and that as Europe and Asia begin recovering from the global economic crisis, he sees 2010 as a good year for bikes.
Next year’s Eurobike is set for Aug. 25-28.
