Visitor numbers to Opti Munich still significantly lower than 2007

Marketing itself to an international audience once again after last year's repositioning, visitor numbers to Opti Munich were still significantly lower than 2007.

Yet organisers claimed attendance of 19,700, over 1,000 more than 2008, sent a strong and positive signal to the sector, even in the current economic climate.

Despite branding itself an international event after its repositioning in 2008 as the leading fair for the German-speaking markets and the emerging markets of eastern Europe, attendance was still significantly lower than the 35,000 visitors recorded in 2007.

Over three-quarters of visitors placed orders with some of the 430 different exhibitors, predominantly from the German optical industry, set out across 35,000 square metres of hall space at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.