It was nonetheless the second highest number of visitors ever, he added.
Ripken said "there must be 999 reasons," for the small decline, including the fact that the 2008 guest Turkey drew crowds from Germany's local Turkish population, and that this year's edition had suffered from the global economic crisis.
The number of professional visitors edged 2.7 percent lower to 180,155, Ripken said, while noting that was much less than declines of up to 20 percent seen at similar events like the Book Expo America or London Book Fair.
"The Frankfurt Book Fair has reasserted its role as the world's leader," Ripken said.
Argentina is scheduled to be next year's guest of honour at the fair, which is to run from October 6-10.
Source: AFP