Windhoek Show attracts thousands

THE just-ended Windhoek Industrial and Agricultural Show managed to slightly pull out of last year’s slumber by attracting 95 682 visitors, higher than last year’s comparative figure of 87 530.

Showgoers expressed satisfaction with a revamped event, which was described as an improvement on previous shows. The show, which ran from September 22 and ended on Saturday, saw a number of innovations which included infrastructural changes, and ensured high quality indoor and outdoor exhibits.Show Society Managing Director Harald Schmidt said his organisation was grateful for the support received from exhibitors and visitors at this year’s event.”The overwhelming positive responses from these two important stakeholders clearly confirmed that the society has succeeded with its first phase of transforming the essence and face of the annual Windhoek Show,” he said.The fireworks display held on Thursday still proved to be popular, pulling in 15 208 visitors that day.Saturday, which was the last day of the show, had the highest number of attendees at 16 932.Other crowd pullers besides the general exhibitions were the Miss Show contest, various entertainment offerings and the livestock shows.Schmidt acknowledged, however, that more could be done to make the show better next year.He said areas which needed improvement included dealing with the numerous power cuts suffered by exhibitors, creating a permanent suitable structure for SMEs, new supplier access routes for vehicles, a broader variety of dishes served during the event to avoid too much emphasis on hotdogs, hamburgers and braaivleis, and improved control of caravan and camping facilities.The show, which ran from September 22 and ended on Saturday, saw a number of innovations which included infrastructural changes, and ensured high quality indoor and outdoor exhibits.Show Society Managing Director Harald Schmidt said his organisation was grateful for the support received from exhibitors and visitors at this year’s event.”The overwhelming positive responses from these two important stakeholders clearly confirmed that the society has succeeded with its first phase of transforming the essence and face of the annual Windhoek Show,” he said.The fireworks display held on Thursday still proved to be popular, pulling in 15 208 visitors that day.Saturday, which was the last day of the show, had the highest number of attendees at 16 932.Other crowd pullers besides the general exhibitions were the Miss Show contest, various entertainment offerings and the livestock shows.Schmidt acknowledged, however, that more could be done to make the show better next year.He said areas which needed improvement included dealing with the numerous power cuts suffered by exhibitors, creating a permanent suitable structure for SMEs, new supplier access routes for vehicles, a broader variety of dishes served during the event to avoid too much emphasis on hotdogs, hamburgers and braaivleis, and improved control of caravan and camping facilities.