The International Boat Show of Barcelona, which finishes today at the Gran Via exhibition centre and Port Vell, has exceeded initial expectations, taking into consideration the very complex economic climate. The event has helped the boosting activity in the Spanish nautical market and promoted new sales and contacts. Exhibitors introduced various national and international premieres and showed the latest trends of a sector, which is moving towards more functional, innovative and ecological navigation.
Barcelona Boat Show in Port Vell
The 50th anniversary edition of Spain’s most important nautical sports and recreation show has generated business and numerous contacts. With the aim of boosting sales, visitors have been able to find financial products offered by entities, such as Deutsche Bank, Banc de Sabadell, CGMER and Banque Populaire Cote D’Azur, for the purchase of yachts and moorings.
Barcelona Boat Show at the Gran Via Exhibition Centre
“Exhibiting companies have assessed their participation this year as being positive, hoping that many of the operations generated will be closed in the next few months”, said the president of the Barcelona Boat Show, Luis Conde, after highlighting that “in such a complex economic climate, as shown by events that, this week, have marked the course of European economy, between all of us we have managed to celebrate this 50th edition, which will possibly mark a before and after in the show’s history”.
In this sense, Fira de Barcelona and the Asociación Nacional de Empresas Náuticas (ANEN) will create a commission to outline the basic lines that should mark the show’s evolution in the years to come, in accordance with the needs of exhibitors and visitors in a changing climate and committed to greater marketing abroad. “We are aware of the importance for companies at this time of crisis to attract international buyers and compensate for the weakness of domestic demand”, said Jordi Freixas, director of the show. “Fira’s vocation is to adapt to the needs of exhibitors to increase opportunities for business and growth”, he added.
President of the Barcelona Boat Show Luis Conde
For the managing director of ANEN, Alejandro Landaluce, “now more than ever, close communication between everyone in the nautical sector is necessary in order to tackle, in the best possible way, the current economic crisis and face the future with the most guarantees”.
The 50th edition of the show, which has received around 108,000 visitors, a few hours before its close, has presented the latest trends of the nautical industry, which is increasingly committed to ecology and functionality. Around 200 well-attended activities included a regatta held on the first weekend with the participation of 1,000 sailors and 700 yachts along the Barcelona coast, demonstrations of steering with a tow, sea initiations, virtual regattas, cruise raffles, announcements of races and conferences.
