The developments surrounding the corona virus in our country are not doing well. If we are not careful we will be back to square one within a few weeks. The number of corona infections in the Netherlands is increasing alarmingly fast. Most of the Netherlands is turning bright red again, which has an impact on the trade fair that will soon take place in Houten. Additional measures have been implemented in 6 safety regions, including the Utrecht Safety Region, which includes Houten. The emergency ordinance COVID-19 Safety Region Utrecht will take effect on September 27, 2020. A second corona wave and less support from the cabinet could change the business community from 1 October.
The taxi drivers who have to pick up their customers around the trade fairs are also looking forward to other income. The RAI now houses a test street of the GGD where the cars drive directly into the hall and is currently in the middle of a reorganization that is costing more than a quarter of the 483 employees their job. There are hardly any events left. Despite almost all fairs being postponed to next year, we are still on the eve of the Taxi-Expo. For the time being, this fair and conference will take place on Thursday 8 October in Houten. The organization of the fair Taxi Expo expects to receive more than 500 visitors this year.
poll of visitor numbers
An exciting edition of the annual conference and the Taxi-Expo trade fair. Our editorial staff asked online about the opinion of the profession about the Taxi-Expo going ahead in corona times. Only 6.3% of those surveyed think it is a good idea. Of the participants in our poll, 31.3% say they understand it, but the vast majority think it is a bad idea. We also surveyed the attendance at the conference, where 25% of those surveyed indicate that they may participate in the conference online this year and 12.5% may be present in Houten. Here too the vast majority are failing. It is also striking that 68.8% of those attending the conference will not visit the exhibition floor after the conference due to the corona measures.
safety comes first
For many fairs and other events, organizers work with time slots, so that there are not too many people at the same time. Exhibitors set up their stand in such a way that the minimum distance of 1,5 meters is guaranteed. Attending meetings is often only possible on the basis of (online) registration. On Monday, the OMT will issue an advice and a decision will be taken. During the latest press conference, it was announced that eight new 'worrisome' regions will be added. This concerns the regions of Groningen, Zaanstreek-Waterland, Gooi and Vechtstreek, Gelderland-South, Brabant-North, Brabant-Southeast, South Holland South and Flevoland. Support for stricter rules is growing now that the number of infections is rapidly increasing and regional measures are in force in a large part of the country. The second wave has started, according to the RIVM.
Covid-19 impact on international exchanges
- SXSW (Austin): will be an 'online' event in 2021
- Mobile World Congress (Barcelona): postponed to (end) June 2021
- Gulfood (Dubai): will continue as planned (physical) for the time being
- Biofach (Nürnberg): will continue for the time being as planned (physical)
- Arab Health (Dubai): Postponed to June 2021
- ISM (Cologne): will continue for the time being as planned (physical / hybrid)
- SIRHA (Lyon): postponed to May / June 2021
- Healthcare + Expo (Taipei): NEW - physical event, with limited Flemish participation (reception booth)
- Pollutec (Lyon): postponed to 2021, but still a digital event
- the Big 5 (Dubai): canceled, but still digital event
- Smart City Expo (Barcelona): canceled, but still digital event (Smart City Live)
- Medica (Düsseldorf): canceled, but still digital event (virtual MEDICA)
- PLMA USA (Chicago): canceled, but still (interim) digital event in February 2021
- China High Tech Fair (Shenzhen): hybrid event, with limited Flemish participation (online)
- Food & Hotel China (Shanghai): hybrid event, Flemish participation canceled
- AfricaCom (Cape Town): canceled, but still digital event
- Adipec (Abu Dhabi): canceled, but still digital conference (no trade fair)
- Xojo Developers conference (London): postponed to autumn 2021
- Wetex (Dubai): canceled, but still digital event (Virtual Wetex)
- Enlit (Milan): canceled, but still digital event (coordination Flux50)
- Bio Europe (Munich): canceled, but still digital event (Bio Europe Digital)
- SIAL (Paris): canceled, next edition in 2022
- Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt): canceled, but still digital offer
- EXPO 2020 DUBAI - world expo (Dubai): postponed to 2021
Also read: Taxi Expo continues despite very restrictive measures
