Nearly 130 Nations Represented At INTERALPIN

INTERALPIN, the world’s leading trade fair for alpine technologies, was able to set an impressive record at its 24th edition.  A detailed analysis of all visitor registrations has found that the trade fair, the central platform for news and innovations from the cable car industry, attracted visitors from more countries than ever to Messe Innsbruck. Provincial Councillor Mario Gerber acknowledged the significance of this achievement for Tirol as a global industry hub.

 ith approximately 650 exhibitors, all key players from more than 50 nations and over 35,000 trade visitors, INTERALPIN has once again proved its role as an important international meeting point in the field of alpine technologies. A digital evaluation of ticket sales has revealed some impressive insights into the visitor demographics: the programme of INTERALPIN 2023, held between 19 and 21 April, was so exciting that registered trade visitors from 129 countries flocked to Innsbruck. This is an increase of 12 countries over the previous event, held in 2019. Remarkably, as many as 75 per cent of visitors were high-ranking decision-makers. ‘It was difficult to predict how the Covid pandemic and other difficulties affecting the industry would impact the trade fair. Thanks to the innovative capacity and technological leadership of the exhibiting companies, however, INTERALPIN 2023 was able to build on its results from the previous edition and set new records. Bringing together so many different interests under one roof is an important part of our work’, said Christian Mayerhofer, managing director of Congress Messe Innsbruck (CMI). He thanked all exhibiting companies, trade visitors and partners of INTERALPIN.

Key markets meet exotic newcomers: from Christmas Island to INTERALPIN in Innsbruck

While traditionally strong key markets such as Austria, France, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, North and South America and Switzerland were as well represented as ever, this year’s INTERALPIN visitors also hailed from growing future markets, such as Australia and New Zealand, and from some truly exotic locations: Kiribati, Namibia, Panama, the Cook Islands, the Solomon Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea and Christmas Island. The foreign trade offices of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber welcomed many high-ranking delegations to Messe Innsbruck. As well as focusing on the touristic uses of ropeways in alpine regions and leisure facilities, around 15 per cent of trade visitors were also interested in solutions for conurbations.

Welcoming the transport minister of the world’s most populous country

Visitors from Asian countries – including Japan, South Korea, China, Bhutan and the United Arab Emirates – showed considerable interest in the exhibiting companies, some of which operate locations around Innsbruck. The Indian Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, attended the trade fair along with a high-ranking delegation in order to explore solutions for potential investment projects at INTERALPIN. He also visited several regional ropeway operators for inspiration. ‘We aim to expand the use of ropeways across India, both as an electric public-transport solution and in the tourism sector. Austria is the global leader in the field of alpine technologies, which makes INTERALPIN extremely interesting to us’, emphasised Gadkari in an interview with INTERALPIN TV.

Making Innsbruck a global hub

‘The sheer number of visitors and their many countries of origin show how important INTERALPIN is for our city. The world's leading trade fair for ropeway and alpine technologies has an international appeal. It attracts visitors from all over the world to Innsbruck – in a way, this is also a boost for our local tourism sector’, said Mario Gerber, Provincial Councillor for Tourism and Economic Affairs. He thanked the CMI team for their excellent work in running the event: “Organising a trade fair of this magnitude requires an incredible wealth of knowledge, a deep understanding of the industry and a lot of work. Many thanks to the team behind it all: this would not have been possible without your dedication.” 

A well-established side event: INTERALPIN Golftrophy 2023

As every year, CMI is organising a networking event on its golf green so that visitors can reflect on INTERALPIN 2023 and discuss first ideas for INTERALPIN 2025 in a casual atmosphere. Project manager Stefan Kleinlercher is already excited about the industry get-together on 9 September 2023: “The INTERALPIN family, along with representatives of the ropeway industry, appreciate INTERALPIN Golftrophy, held at the Olympia Golf Club in Igls since 2010, as an opportunity for casual competition and culinary delights.” Interested golf aficionados with an industry background are welcome to register: interalpin@cmi.at. 

INTERALPIN TV: www.interalpin.tv