InterTabac 2021 won’t take place

InterTabac 2021 won’t take place. For the second year in a row, the largest tobacco trade show in the world is canceled. This again has to do with the covid-19 pandemic that is keeping the world hostage. 

The cancellation is a bit of a surprise though. Last year, the Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe who owns the show, only canceled the event on May 28 as the last of all large tobacco trade shows. And now, with TPE and PCA still on the roster, Intertabac decides to cancel the show this early in the year. Even though many countries are vaccinating against the virus. Most European countries are on track to vaccinate every willing body before the end of the summer.

no demand

“Working closely with the industry associations and partner associations, the conceptual sponsors, the advisory board, and the exhibitors of the twin fairs, it has become clear that the vast majority is against holding the events this September, as previously announced,” says Sabine Loos, managing director for Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe.

The event was supposed to take place from September 16 to September 18 in Dortmund this year. Intertabac isn’t postponing the trade show, but canceling it completely. The next Intertabac trade show will take place on September 15-17, 2022.

As a replacement for the 2020 Intertabac Trade Show, Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe tried to organize a hybrid in-person and virtual trade show. But the attempt lacked interest from both exhibitors and visitors. The organizers are not trying to host a virtual event again.

Most countries in Europe are still under lockdown with alarming numbers of covid-19 cases. But with a vaccination program in place and more vaccines approved for the market, canceling Intertabac this early in the year may prove itself to be a bad decision. Only time will tell.