Asia Outdoor climbs higher

A growth rate of 30 percent (as of late March) among registered outdoor brands confirms the rising interest of the industry in this trade show with an Asian venue. Asia Outdoor will be open for four exhibition days in Nanjing.

Organizers expect this year's Asia Outdoor to be bigger and better than ever, with over 250 exhibitors anticipated to attend this year's trade show for mountain and nature sports. The number of exhibitors just keeps on climbing. While there were 174 stands at the first edition of Outdoor Asia in 2006, last year in Nanjing this number increased to 215 exhibiting companies. The German partner contact in China, Knut Jaeger, says that he feels very optimistic when he sees the large number of exhibitors who registered for the event by late March 2008: "We already have 120 brands that have signed up at this early stage and we anticipate more than 250 exhibitors in 2008, which would set another new record. Many exhibitors want to create even more impressive displays and have expanded their stand space by 20 to 30 percent." In 2007, the show covered a total of 22,000 sqm.

"China is the outdoor market with the largest growth potential," explains Jaeger. "Currently, the market volume in China is rising by 30 to 40 percent a year." The business consultant was a co-founder of OutDoor in Friedrichshafen in 1994. As the founder of Big Pack, he has been traveling to China on a regular basis since 1978 and is one of the initiators of Asia Outdoor in Nanjing. A total of 8,218 trade visitors from China and the Asian region came to Nanjing in 2007 to attend the four trade show days. What's more, trade show directors say that an additional 3,000 mountaineering and nature sports fans attended the final open house day.

Asia Outdoor also includes a comprehensive supporting program with lectures, courses, climbing events, an outdoor fashion show and an outdoor party. And – back by popular demand – in 2008 there will once again be a German beer garden with beer and culinary delights that are "made in Germany".

Asia Outdoor is also exhibiting in the virtual world of the Internet. Visitors to www.asian-outdoor.com will find a wide range of information on the trade show in Nanjing.