Trade Show’s Low Turnout Blamed On Economy, Violence Worries

EL PASO, Texas — It used to be a massive gathering of businessmen and women in the Sun City. Now the Borderland Trade Show has been reduced to a blurry image of what it once was.

Event organizers said at its peak the show was bringing in nearly 450 vendors, and now it is down to 70.

Most people at the show agree the contributing factor for the low turnout is the poor state of the economy, and the fears that some may have for their safety along the border.

“I think people are going to be holding back and trying to see what’s going to happen,” El Paso-area business owner Juan Hernandez said in response to the lack of participation at this year’s event.

Those who have been coming to the show for years say the participants used to fill up the entire Convention Center, with attendees filing long lines just to get in.

This year there were no lines. Only half the Convention Center was used, and that half wasn’t even full.

Event organizers say they are still optimistic about the future of business along the El Paso-Juarez border despite the low turnout.

They hope things will pick up on the second day of the trade show.