According to a report prepared by the Barcelona Institute of Economics at the University of Barcelona, the trade fair organisation generated a total economic impact of 6.14 billion € in 2024. The figure represents an increase of 28.1 percent compared with 2019, when the impact amounted to 4.8 billion €. It is also estimates that the activity created 49,423 full time jobs and generated a gross value added of approximately 2.96 billion €, equivalent to about one percent of Catalonia’s GDP. The analysis covers events held at the Montjuïc, Gran Via and Barcelona International Convention Centre venues.

Trade fairs drive spending, business activity and employment

The report attributes the economic impact to several factors, including organisational spending, visitor and exhibitor expenditure and business generated through participation in events. In 2024 the venues hosted around 19,964 exhibitors and approximately 1.8 million visitors. The study also highlights business generated by participating companies, which accounted for more than half of the overall impact. Service sectors such as trade, transport and hospitality received the largest share, while manufacturing industries including food production also benefited.