The recently concluded 54th Barcelona Boat Show, marked by growth of a Spanish yacht charter market, has been a huge success. This remarkable growth has been due in no small part to the work of ANEN, the Spanish Nautical Business Association, who have been tirelessly lobbying for tax reforms. One of these has successfully resulted in the liberation of the luxury yacht charter market in Spain, which has boasted growth of 56% and 37% in bookings over the last two seasons.
54th Barcelona Boat Show – Photo by Peter Franklin
The 54th Barcelona Boat Show, “feels positive and vibrant with exhibitors reporting a good buzz around the quays at Port Vell“, commented Luis Conde, the show’s president, during a regular yearly breakfast briefing for around ten invited yachting journalists from all over Europe. The event’s location right in the middle of Barcelona – one of Europe‘s busiest tourist cities attracting 7 million visitors a year – has been undoubtedly a factor in this great success.
Luis Conde added: “The significant investment in the Port Vell infrastructure resulting in more quayside space for stands close to the water, and plenty of moorings for boats in the water has also been a huge benefit in the last couple of years.” The Salamanca-owned ‘OneOcean’ five star marina hosted an amazing line up of superyachts, and certainly gave the boat show location a glamorous and interesting appeal.
Port Vell hosting luxury superyachts – Photo by Peter Franklin
Jose Luis Fayos of ANEN also mentioned at the press meeting, that 30,000 new licenses have been granted by sea schools for recreational skippers during 2015 to September, saying that this trend will no doubt lead to increased boat sales, as well as more charter bookings in the future.
Jordi Freixas the boat show director, also highlighted the fact that the ratio of sail to motor boats in the water was around 70/30 in favour of sail, and that sailing catamarans, always popular with superyacht charter holiday groups, were there in more numbers than usual. With 16 of them lined up out on the dock, exhibitors confirmed that charter companies were very busy in the market buying new models for their fleets.
Feadship F45 Superyacht GLADIATOR – Photo by Peter Franklin
This year’s Barcelona Boat Show featured 670 boats and luxury yachts of which 80 were new models, and welcomed an amazing number of 55,000 visitors over the five days of the event.
The next edition of Barcelona Boat Show will run from October 12 to 16, 2016.
Reported By Peter Franklin
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