Visitor numbers to Amsterdam’s METS boat show were down on last year’s figure, but they still came as a delightful surprise to organisers who had expected a much bigger drop in the current poor ecenomic climate.

The show had 18,485 visitors in 2007 the figure was 19,764. Show product manager, Irene Dros,said: “Although we had a record number of exhibitors, we were all too aware of the global downturn in visitors to marine events and feared that numbers could be significantly down,” she said.

Although the mood was understandably cautious, exhibitor feedback has been positive. Sylvain Weiler, CEO of French company Nenuphar Cap Rea underlined this view. “I am more confident about next year despite the global economic climate. I had the number of contacts I expected and reactions were especially positive from Eastern Europe. METS has always improved our export sales and we will definitely be back in 2009,” he said.