The 2012 Dusseldorf Boat Show has fully met the expectations of the international yacht and water sports industry. 246,700 water-sport enthusiasts coming from over 60 countries not only made for optimism at the world’s biggest yacht and water sports trade fair drawing to a close on Sunday, 29 January, but also for good business results in nearly all segments of the ranges on display. One year ago 250,500 visitors travelled to the Rhine. Over nine days boot 2012 hosted 1,656 exhibitors from 62 countries showing their new yachts, new water sport gear as well as equipment and accessories in 17 Düsseldorf exhibition halls.
boot Dusseldorf 2012
Rating the results Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, CEO and President of Messe Düsseldorf, said: “We are very satisfied with how the trade fair went. We have succeeded in stabilising the number of visitors at the previous event’s high level. But what is even more important for the exhibiting business: stands at the fair welcomed a high-calibre audience with an interest in spending. We are also delighted to note that boot with its programme “A 360° Water Sports Experience” in 16 themed and experience worlds has once again proven a meeting point for families and young visitors taking an interest in water sports. I am confident that our numerous exciting water sports ranges in exhibition halls make an important contribution to promoting young talents and will provide the sector with strong impetus in the long run.”
For Jürgen Tracht, Managing Director of the German Water Sports Association (BVWW) in Cologne, boot 2012 was an economic success. “boot Düsseldorf is and will always be the international flagship of the sector. The many new products and innovations on show in Düsseldorf attract to the trade fair halls extremely well-informed visitors from many countries throughout the world who want to buy. At present impulse buying is rare. Consequently, our suspicions already in the run-up to boot 2012 were proven right: in view of the debate surrounding EURO stability customers are investing in reliable value and quality. And this applies to the complete product portfolio.”
Clearly ranking first for visitors were sailing boats or yachts. Almost 50% of visitors took an interest in the ranges in this segment. One in three wanted information on powerboats. Marine equipment and accessories were on the shopping lists of 36% of visitors. Over 27% visited the diving sports trade fair under the roof of boot 2012. The maritime travel market lured over 30% of visitors to Halls 13 and 14.
The proportion of international visitors was up slightly. More than 50,000 visitors travelled to boot in Düsseldorf from abroad. One in three came from southern, eastern and northern Germany.
Results from the initial representative surveys are confirmed by BVWW-CEO Jürgen Tracht. The market for sailing boats and yachts is going well. Sales are above last year’s levels. Preference is given to completely furnished yachts in the middle sized segment.
In the motorboat segment large to middle-sized vessels are ahead of the game. Sales are also partially up against those made here in 2011. Rather subdued is the demand for smaller oats. To appeal to buyers in this segment products must offer quality and comfort.
However, the market has picked up for large yachts. The industry is reporting a re-awakening of interest here with many good discussions, international contacts and sometimes even concrete intentions to buy.
Exhibitors of high-quality marine equipment and accessories can delight at rising sales. A thriving second-hand yacht market and a wish on the part of customers to upgrade their yachts or maintain their value is stimulating demand here. Investment is primarily directed at high-quality comfort and safety furnishing.
The manufacturers of diving gear are very satisfied. After a slump in turnover suffered by the sector in 2011 due to the political unrest in the most important diving destination Egypt, the tide has turned again. Exhibitors are reporting rising sales at boot 2012.
Charter companies and exhibitors in the water tourism segment are posting good early bookings for summer 2012. Rated as highly as before are Germany’s inland waterways where a boating licence is not required. The trend in this segment: shorter holidays but more often! In international terms Turkey and destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean are very popular.
The 16 experience worlds of boot 2012 once again went down extremely well with visitors. This year’s hit: the new World of Paddling with its canoe “test track”. Visitors patiently queued for hours to enjoy a canoe ride in Hall 13. Also highly rated were the Sailing Center, the Holiday World and the Diving Sport Center. The Beach World struck a real nerve appealing to young water sports enthusiasts and satisfying 95% of visitors.
Once again boot 2012 enjoyed top marks across the board: according to initial surveys 96% of visitors felt their expectations were met.
boot Düsseldorf 2013 will take place from 19 to 27 January.
