Scheduled to take place from April 11 to 14, the 18th edition of China (Shanghai) International Boat Show (CIBS) represents the continuous growth of leisure boating in China. This is clearly evident in the demand for space at the show. With still 4 months to go, more than 90% of available space has gone.
Last year the show moved to a new venue with an increase in exhibitor capacity of 30% AND IT SOLD OUT. This year, the total capacity has raised to 48,000 sq metres.
A wonderful combination of mild enough winters and summers relatively free from cyclonic storm influence make the wealthy areas of Jiangsu, Shanghai and ZheJiang, with, of course Shanghai – with its over 130,000 millionaires – the hub perfect for the continuing growth in interest in leasure boating and the demand for space at CIBS is nothing more than a natural reflection of this.
National trade associations from Italy, Australia, USA, Spain and Korea have seen the success for their members from attendance at previous shows and have confirmed their presence but with increased space over previous years. Other trade associations from the likes of the UK and Germany are also in discussion about making an appearance at CIBS 2013.
The show in 2013 will increase its focus on the ultimate end user with more emphasis on promoting boats, boating and the boating lifestyle with 13,000 sq metres dedicated to ‘Expo Leisure’ focusing on the other trappings that naturally accompany the fun to be had around boats and on the water.
After the strong success of the on the water element of CIBS 2012, arrangements are currently at an advanced stage for similar facilities for CIBS 2013 adjacent to the main CIBS show halls.
Once again on-line pre-registration has been launched and is already showing an uplift of over 20% on the same time last year, a figure which if it continues 8and it is showing no sign of slowing down) that the show is already on track to healthily beating the 30,000 visitors who filed the show’s doors last year.
Interestingly, and encourangingly CIBS is most certainly not working alone on developing and futher encouraging water leisure in the region.
A major program has been launched to take advantage of the improving appearance and water environment in Shanghai and to help improve public access to Suzhou Creek and the Huangpu River. This involves building 15 sites that will allow leisure craft to dock in safety.
These new sightseeing docks will be at Waitanyuan, Shenyuli, Sihang, Warehouse, West Tianmu Road, Binhe, Changhua Road, Mengqingyuan, Xikang Road, Caojiadu, Changfeng Park, Danba Road, Zhongshan Park, Fenglingdu, Zhujuabang and Zongjinggang.
The actual site selection will, in fact must consider the feasibility and ease of construction of the facilities and the overall impact on the development of Suzhou River.
And it is not just the city’s ‘Mother River’ that is seeing development. Dianshan Lake, to the west of the city, means lot to Shanghai. Just 10 years ago there was just 1 small slub with only a very few boats. Now there are at least 5 with numbers of boats AND regular boater increasing almost weekly. It would appear that Shanghai’s middle class is starting to get the boating bug and the lake, with its clean water and areas of beauty and nature all round its shores are encouraging people, whole families in fact, to go out of the city at weekends.
More and more Shanghai white collarworkers are enjoying the sailing at weekends and appear to have caught the boating bug. And not to forget Shanghai’s (and beyond) coastal areas with clubs springing up on salt as well as fresh water.
And it is not just CIBS that thinks it is providing a good venue to help people into boating. This is from Zhou Juan, Managing Director of Shanghai Double Happiness Yacht Co., Ltd.: “As a yacht company in Shanghai, we are proud of CIBS which is the biggest show in Asia. Such a stage futhers the flourishing development of this industry and are happy to see that.”
And it is not just local businesses that see the value of attendance at CIBS, when asked, Francesco Albertoni, President of the UCINA made these comments about the Shanghai Show: “It is now over ten years since we first attended the China (Shanghai) International Boat Show with an Italian Pavilion, representing over 400 UCINA member businesses operating in the Pleasure boat sector-expression of the ‘excellence’ of Made in Italy in the world-witnessing the Shanghai Boat Show; growth, year after year, and the Chinese nautical industry become a market with significant growth prospects.”
