The organiser of the Discover Daily Telegraph Holiday and Travel Show has blamed a combination of tougher travel industry conditions and a change in its tenancy dates for a drop in this year’s attendance.
 
This year’s consumer show at Manchester Central attracted 24,344 visitors, down 10,000 on the previous year (unaudited), organiser John Fish said. The show was held from 6 to 8 January and supported by 127 exhibitors.
 
Fish blamed the attendance fall on a decision to move the show forward a week to accommodate a major conference at the venue. He also claimed a football match between Manchester City and Manchester United on 8 January wreaked havoc on transport and placed the city in virtual lockdown.
 
However, Fish denied his show was significantly affected by Clarion’s decision to launch a new north west edition of its Destination, The Holiday and Travel Show alongside the Caravan and Motorhome Show at nearby EventCity from 19 to 22 January.
 
“We ended up losing five exhibitors to the Destinations event,” he said.
 
Given the extremely difficulties facing the travel industry, and travel companies disappearing from the scene, Fish is looking at several strategic changes in time for next year's show but said he planned to stay at Manchester Central.
 
The Discover Daily Telegraph Holiday and Travel Show celebrated its 25th year at Manchester Central this year.
 
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