Rome, 26 May. (Adnkronos Salute) – The number of congresses continues to grow. Europe is a magnet, and Italy is still in the top ten chosen destinations. If the medical sciences are 'queen' in this field by number of events, the technological sector is growing. But in recent years the bite of the crisis has nonetheless made itself felt: the meetings have become shorter – from 6.3 days in the 1960s to 3.8 in 2008-12 – and smaller: from 1,253 participants in the 1960s to 428 in 2008-12. This is what emerges from the study 'Association demand: characteristics and trends today' carried out by Meeting Consultants for the Convention Bureau of the Rimini Riviera.
In any case, on balance the sector 'holds up': in the last 25 years the turnover has always grown: from 18.8 billion dollars in the period 1993-1997 to 56.4 billion in the period 2008-2012. However, a trend towards “cost containment” appears clear: reduction of ancillary services, budget cuts in operating areas, negotiation and ever-increasing requests from customers. As a result, the overall average expenditure per congress is down compared to the 1990s: 1,028.027 dollars in the 2008-2012 period against 1,114,637 dollars in the 1993-1997 period”.
Europe attracts the largest number of international association congresses: the 54% in the five-year period 2008-2012. Furthermore, over the last 50 years, Italy has always been among the top 10 countries that host international association congresses.
