This year the Cairo event finally embraced digital fully, with a hybrid in-person and online fair, that given Covid restrictions and public concerns is hardly likely to break any footfall records, but has revealed some stunning digital numbers.
Traditionally the world’s biggest public-facing publishing event, the Cairo International Book Fair has been underway since end January and will wind up February 7.
This year the Cairo event finally embraced digital fully, with a hybrid in-person and online fair, that given Covid restrictions and public concerns is hardly likely to break any footfall records, but has revealed some stunning digital numbers.
Per ME Printer, the first day of the fair attracted 91,000 people in person while the website took 44.5 million hits, and we can safely assume that momentum has carried on through the rest of the fair, and will do so until close on Monday.
The Cairo results will go along way to reassuring – or convincing – other publishers and events organisers in the Arab and other emerging markets that digital can make a huge difference to the industry’s prospects.
Further details are unlikely until after the fair is wound up, when TNPS will hopefully be able to bring the final numbers.
Among the fairs highlights so far has been the meeting between IPA President Bodour Al Qasimi and the Arab publishers, with Al Qasimi emphasising the need for digital embrace by the region’s publishing industry if it is to stay relevant and vibrant. More on that in a dedicated TNPS post soon.
UPDATE: The final number is 2 million visitors, down on Cairo’s record, but very respectable given the Pandemic is still far from over, and by western book fairs standards a phenomenal number only Spain’s Madrid Book Fair can match.
