Lukewarm attendance at Windhoek Show

THE unexpected cold weather this week has apparently had a negative effect on the number of visitors to the Windhoek Industrial and Agricultural Show.

Only 39 046 visitors were recorded on the first four days, compared to 40 884 recorded during the same time last year. However, Show Society Managing Director Harald Schmidt says the organisation is satisfied with the attendance so far.It still remains to be seen whether the show will improve on last year’s lacklustre performance – only 92 068 visitors attended the nine-day event, a dramatic drop from the 117 345 people who visited the show in 2004.Schmidt said the show – which started on Friday and ends this Saturday – had received a much-needed facelift which was being well received by the visitors.He said positive remarks and compliments had been pouring in from exhibitors and showgoers alike.”The exceptionally high standard and quality of exhibits, both indoor and outdoor, have impressed both the show organisers and visitors and there exists no doubt that the concerned efforts by the exhibitors and the Society have achieved the objective of bringing about a facelift to this show event,” said Schmidt.This year’s show has also seen improved efficiency at the access gates, he said.But Schmidt expressed disappointment with power outages during the first two days, which he said had frustrated exhibitors.At least six people have been arrested for various crimes at the showgrounds, including selling fake tickets and trespassing.However, Show Society Managing Director Harald Schmidt says the organisation is satisfied with the attendance so far.It still remains to be seen whether the show will improve on last year’s lacklustre performance – only 92 068 visitors attended the nine-day event, a dramatic drop from the 117 345 people who visited the show in 2004.Schmidt said the show – which started on Friday and ends this Saturday – had received a much-needed facelift which was being well received by the visitors.He said positive remarks and compliments had been pouring in from exhibitors and showgoers alike.”The exceptionally high standard and quality of exhibits, both indoor and outdoor, have impressed both the show organisers and visitors and there exists no doubt that the concerned efforts by the exhibitors and the Society have achieved the objective of bringing about a facelift to this show event,” said Schmidt.This year’s show has also seen improved efficiency at the access gates, he said.But Schmidt expressed disappointment with power outages during the first two days, which he said had frustrated exhibitors.At least six people have been arrested for various crimes at the showgrounds, including selling fake tickets and trespassing.