Zoomark targets further growth

A ten per cent increase in the size of the exhibition area means that this year's edition of the prominent trade show will be considerably bigger than two years ago. This year Zoomark International will occupy halls 25, 26, 28, 29 and 30. Show organiser BolognaFiere also aims to surpass the limit of 27 000 trade visitors achieved in 2017. Two years ago, one in three visitors to the show came from outside Italy; the percentage is expected to be even higher this time around.

This year Zoomark International is being staged exclusively during the week for the first time. It is therefore following the model adopted by the organisers of Interzoo in Nuremberg, who switched to this format last year. Although it caused a slight drop in the number of trade visitors to Nuremberg, the number of foreign attendees increased from 70 to 74 per cent.
"We have switched to the Monday to Thursday format to respond to the needs of the major international buyers, who prefer to travel during the week. Monday is traditionally a closing day for shops too, and in some areas of Italy shops also close on Wednesday or Thursday afternoon," said Marco Momoli, sales director of BolognaFiere.

There will be eight national delegations at Zoomark International 2019: China, the USA, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Taiwan and the new entries India and the Czech Republic. The fair organisers expect that these new groups will bring in more foreign visitors, boosting the networking activities, which are essential for both exhibitors and buyers. At the last show the fair organiser put considerable effort into extending international contacts; Zoomark International has accompanied Italian and international companies that are willing to approach and develop in the key Russian and Chinese markets to trade fairs in Moscow and Canton.

As was the case two years ago, trade visitors specialising in aquariums should get their money's worth in Bologna. Aqua Project is a special section of Zoomark devoted to the aquarium industry that appeared for the first time in 2017 and will form part of the trade show again this year. Exhibitors will be presenting their tanks around the area's focal point, two spectacular aquariums and an impressive pond.