The Book Fair recovers from Covid with record figures: 10 million in sales and 3 million visitors

The Madrid Book Fair has closed its 81st edition, the return to normality after the pandemic, with record numbers of visitors exceeding three million and sales of over 10 million euros, 2% per above the collection of 2019.

The Book Fair recovers from Covid with record figures: 10 million in sales and 3 million visitors

The Madrid Book Fair has closed its 81st edition, the return to normality after the pandemic, with record numbers of visitors exceeding three million and sales of over 10 million euros, 2% per above the collection of 2019.

Seventeen days, from May 27 to June 12, dedicated to the book in which it has been shown that there was a desire for the fair after the testimonial edition in digital format of 2022 and the limited edition of 2021 and which closes its doors with a balance that exceeds the record figures achieved in the 2019 edition.

According to the balance of the organization, the turnover has reached 10,207,000 euros, 2% more than three years ago, when 550,000 copies were sold, which translated into a collection of 10 million euros.

In addition, the number of visitors to the 'book festival' in El Retiro Park, a place where it has been held since 1967, amounts to more than 3,100,000 people, above the 2.3 million visits in 2019 .

An edition in which with the novel leading sales, although the comic "makes its way steadily" in which, in addition, the fair has established itself as the largest of the 21st century, with 378 booths and more than 400 exhibitors. Thus, it has organized 5,881 signature sessions featuring 4,018 people (2,182 authors and 1,836 women authors).

The data from the first weekend already pointed to the post-pandemic recovery, with sales success estimated at around 10% compared to 2019, which has finally been slowed down, in part, by the adverse weather conditions last Saturday, which forced to close earlier than usual and cancel signing sessions that attract large crowds.

In any case, the balance of the 81st edition "has been very positive", in the opinion of its organizers. The director of the Madrid Book Fair, Eva Orúe, has pointed to factors such as the recovery of normalcy, the proper functioning of the new signing spaces and the programming focused on promoting the promotion of reading and writing in the first ages as keys to this success.

In an interview with Europa Press, Eva Orúe highlighted the good reception of the specific spaces to host "mass signatures" with the aim of moving the lines of people outside the venue and, in this way, lighten the usual crowds in other editions.

«One of the things we have achieved, regardless of the number of specific visits, is that even on Saturdays and Sundays, with many people, it was reasonably well circulated. I think we have been able to alleviate the jamming effect that occurred in previous editions to a large extent », he highlighted.

The greater influx of people during the week compared to previous editions has also been a trend, which translates "into better sales for exhibitors whose fund is aimed at a more demanding public."

Another verifiable fact is the relationship between the books signed by the authors who have gathered at the Retreat and their replacement in the bookstore booths. Both data have gone in parallel, they have pointed out.

The absence of the Guest of Honor Country has not prevented the fair from showing its more international side, fundamentally through the presence of foreign authors in its talks and debate tables, especially Latin American ones.

On the occasion of the presentation, at the Goethe-Institut in Madrid, of the cultural and literary program of Spain as Guest Country of Honor at the next edition of the Frankfurt Book Fair (October 19-23, 2022), a delegation from 12 German journalists visited the Madrid Book Fair after the event, on June 9.

Likewise, and along the same lines, he highlighted the reception by the Community of Madrid Pavilion of the second edition of the '2022 Edition Market' meeting, which promotes commercial and professional exchange between agents in the children's book sector and youth.

Germany, Switzerland, Lithuania and Turkey have been the countries of origin of the guest editors in this edition. All of them have had the opportunity to learn about the panorama of the Spanish LIJ and to hold meetings with national publishers, meetings with booksellers, librarians and other institutions related to books and reading.

This activity stands out among the 22 that have made up the programming of the Community of Madrid Pavilion, which has seen 1,643 participants. Apart from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Community of Madrid, it has been sponsored by the Association of Publishers of Madrid and Acción Cultural Española.

NEXT NEWS