The 50th Edition of the Malta International Trade Fair was the last to be held at the Naxxar Grounds, and possibly also marked the end of an era.

Fifty years ago, when the Trade Fair was first held, only a decade had passed since the end of World War Two. Malta was still emerging from those dark years, was still on its way towards achieving independence, and commerce and trade were still developing.

At that time, the shopping centres were not as we know them today, and other places which today have also grown tremendously in terms of business, were still simple residential areas. People used to have to go to Valletta or Sliema for their shopping purposes, with Mosta and Hamrun quickly following suit, being joined more recently by localities such as San Gwann.

By bringing companies under one roof – so to speak that is, considering that the fair is held outdoors in the beginning of summer – Maltese consumers were given the option of finding what they needed in just one place. Bargains started to be offered and traders realised the importance of reducing prices to encourage people to buy.

The number of visitors grew hand in hand with the growth of the fair itself. It was an event people waited for year after year. Housewives went to look for their new domestic appliances and possibly buy them cheaper from there, while men turned up in numbers to see the latest models of cars. It became an outing for the whole family, even for those who had no interest in making purchases. It was an evening of entertainment, with hundreds of cars flocking to the Naxxar area each and every night.

The popularity of the Trade Fair however dwindled over the years as the trade patterns changed. Sales started to be held throughout the year, and people no longer had to wait for the first two weeks of July to find bargains. Valletta and Sliema grew further as commercial centres while other localities expanded too. Businessmen invested heavily in their retail outlets and their stands in Naxxar, which for many years were their showpiece, started to become of a poorer quality since it was not worth it to spend so much money for a place that served only for two weeks.

Added to this, the number of specialised fairs, also organised at Naxxar, increased over the years, which meant that people looking for specific items knew where and when to look for them too. The Trade Fair lost much of its touch and attraction so much so that the number of days was eventually reduced from two full weeks to 10 days.

The fair became more of an outing for people wanted to do some window shopping, to know what the market is offering, and then make their decisions – and purchases – at another time of the year.

It is therefore no big surprise that 50 per cent of retailers who had stands at the Trade Fair reported a deterioration of sales in a survey carried out by the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises. Only 16 per cent reported an increase in business.

As the fair now moves from Naxxar to Ta’ Qali as from next year, the Trade Fairs Corporation must do a rethinking exercise and see what future it wants for the exposition. The corporation must see what the retailers – the main protagonists of the exercise – want before coming up with solutions, without however forgetting what the consumers’ expectations are.

The fair should not be left to its own destiny but it must be supported to remain an important fixture. Maybe under a different form or with a different purpose, but an important fixture nonetheless.