INTERALPIN 2023: The world's leading trade fair proves its global power

The presence of all the key players in the international ropeway and alpine technology industry, the premieres of world firsts and innovative technologies and the high level of interest shown by trade visitors and decision-makers from all continents, including the Indian Minister for Transport and high-ranking international business delegations, underpinned INTERALPIN's position as the leading industry platform.

Innsbruck, 21 April 2023. After a four-year break due to Covid-19, the 24th edition of INTERALPIN demonstrated its enduring global strength and appeal as the world's leading trade fair. For three days, the Alpine metropolis of Innsbruck became the centre of the ropeway and alpine technology industry for more than 35,000 trade visitors from all over the world. “I am extremely pleased that INTERALPIN 2023 was able to continue playing its important role as the most international meeting place for the industry and has been confirmed by trade visitors as the world's leading trade fair for alpine technologies. The industry’s innovative power is impressive, and the innovations, concepts and solutions presented by around 650 exhibiting companies from over 50 nations reached audiences from all over the world. My sincere thanks go to all the exhibitors and partners as well as the many trade visitors,” concludes Director Christian Mayerhofer, Managing Director of the host, Congress Messe Innsbruck (CMI). “As a long-standing and essential partner, I am delighted that everything went without a hitch and that INTERALPIN 2023 was a complete success. Discussions with the companies present have revealed that very good deals were concluded at the trade fair. The innovations presented were excellently received by the ropeway companies and other target groups at INTERALPIN. The ropeway industry has been investing in sustainability for many years and is optimistic about the future,” adds Dr Erik Wolf, Managing Director of the Professional Association of Austrian Cable Cars (WKO).

Global decision-makers invested heavily

The particularly high quality of the trade visitors who travelled to the fair highlighted why INTERALPIN is the world's leading platform for the industry: the proportion of top decision-makers was around 75 percent, as shown by an independent visitor survey conducted during the trade fair. The reasons for the high proportion of quality trade visitors included the presence of all the market-leading big players, the many new products being launched by manufacturers, the comprehensive overview of all industry-relevant brands and the opportunity to make important international contacts. The exhibiting companies achieved a corresponding level of success: over 80 percent of the decision-makers came to the trade fair with concrete investment plans, as shown by the visitor survey.

Delegations and ministers: share of international trade visitors at over 65 percent

INTERALPIN 2023 was able to ratify its prestigious reputation as the world's leading trade fair with an international trade visitor share of over 65 percent. The access control system for Messe Innsbruck recorded registrations from over 120 nations. In addition to Austria, the range of countries of origin included established core markets, such as France, Italy, Germany, the US, Japan, Argentina and Switzerland, as well as fast-growing markets of the future like India, China, Turkey and other representatives from the Near and Middle East, Central and East Asia and South America. The most prominent international visitor was the Indian Minister for Transport and Traffic, His Excellency Nitin Gadkari, who arrived with a large delegation and a number of investment projects, including solutions for alpine tourism use or public transport in urban centres.

Thematic leadership further extended: sustainability as an important quality feature

In addition to the innovative trade fair presence of the exhibiting companies and brands, INTERALPIN 2023 was able to expand its role as the industry's thematic leader. Right from the very first day, the Austrian Ropeway Conference pointed out which issues are significant now and which will become even more relevant in the future. Under the title “Sustainability – Ecology, Economy and Social Issues” , workshops dealt with topics like energy autonomy for cable cars or new ways of tourist mobility. Sustainability was also a major theme for the INTERALPIN INSPIRATION DAYS that took place in parallel to the trade fair. The outlook for European tourism was already outlined during the keynote speakers session. The topic of sustainability in alpine tourism went into even more detail. “Prominent speakers, such as Dr Eduardo Santander, Director of the European Travel Commission, or one of the most successful and creative ski resort operators Jakob (Jack) Falkner, ensured great international resonance,” reports INTERALPIN Project Manager Stefan Kleinlercher. The meetings of the International Organisation for Transportation by Rope (OITAF) and the International Federation of National Associations of Ropeway and Cableway Operators (FIANET) were also held concurrently with INTERALPIN.

“Peak Experience” with high overall satisfaction

Now it's time for INTERALPIN to continue on its successful path, adds Mayerhofer: “The great response from the industry and the high level of interest from trade visitors give us a clear mandate to take the success story of INTERALPIN as a 'Peak Experience' and go a step further again when it comes to its 25th edition in 2025.” Overall, more than 90 percent of trade visitors gave INTERALPIN 2023 top marks, as confirmed by the visitor survey.