Combined attendance levels at the 2007 editions of the Amusement Trades Exhibition International (ATEI), International Casino Exhibition (ICE) and interactive gaming show (ICEi) hit new heights with overall participation surpassing 25,000 for the first time.

In total 25,055 people from 117 international jurisdictions attended the three-day event, a marginal 0.57 per cent increase on 2006, comprising 13,032 ATEI-dedicated visitors, 9,662 in ICE and 2,361 in ICEi.

International attendance rose by 5.3 per cent to an all-time high of 11,919, representing 47.6 per cent of the total. UK participation fell by 4.5 per cent to 12,920. Of the 117 nations represented in London, 74 recorded annual increases in visitor numbers, with 43 registering record-high levels and 35 providing 100 visitors or more.

Paraguay and the Aland Islands were represented by visitors for the very first time in 2007, taking the total number of territories participating since 1995 to 178.

The ATEI headline figure of 13,032 comprised 8,245 domestic buyers and 4,687 from outside the UK. Overall attendance recorded a deficit of 13.8 per cent, roughly in line with the 14.8 per cent drop in the number of exhibitors, a proportion of whom opted to take new stand positions within ICE.

The ICE/ICEi headline figure of 12,023 comprised 9,662 ICE-dedicated buyers and 2,361 registered for ICEi and included 4,675 UK-based industry professionals and 7,232 from outside the UK. Overall attendance increased by 22.7 per cent year-on-year.

“Visitor figures are always treated with a degree of scepticism, but I think an honest assessment is that we are absolutely delighted at setting a new record attendance for the London Shows and totally realistic about the challenging and changing times facing our ATEI exhibitors,” commented Peter Rusbridge, CEO of show organisers Clarion ATE.

“Undoubtedly the driver for growth in 2007 has been ICE and ICEi, whilst the amusements market is in the process of establishing a new status quo,” he continued. “The new floor plan worked well and we’ve shown that it is possible to operate an exhibition on two levels. However, we know that we can improve the offering in 2008 and that process of working with our exhibitors and consultants has already begun.

The 2008 show takes place at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre on Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 January.