With NT$1Bn in orders already placed for 32 motor yachts as well as sail boats and plenty of more of them expected in follow up deals, this month’s Taiwan International Boat Show has sailed away with all round acclaim, when it closed its doors in Kaohsiung on May 11.
Taiwan Int'l Boat Show 2014
The backers knew that success beckoned when they felt the trade breezes and looked to the horizon. More than 70,000 people visited Taiwan Int’l Boat Show from May 8 to 11. They included more than 2,000 overseas buyers and thousands of domestic buyers. More than NT$1bn. was generated during show days with the sale of 32 boats and related equipment. It is projected that follow up orders for 30 more yachts will be placed to boost total show-generated business to NT$5.2 billion
Most important, this first time event won high praise from both exhibitors and buyers for being the ideal place to scout the entire trade and industry. Besides stimulating growth in the yacht-building and related industries, the Taiwan International Boat show was to showcase the world-class conference and exhibition sector that stands as a model to other sporting and leisure related trade shows.
Horizon Yachts at the 2014 Taiwan International Boat Show
Top oversea buyers at the show by number came from China, the U.S.A., Japan, Hong Kong, the U.K., Singapore, Canada, Germany, the Philippines, and South Korea. The largest share (64%) of oversea buyers came from Asia, followed by buyers from North America (15%) and from Europe (13%). Leading buyers included representatives of Sea Ray Boats (a member company of the Brunswick Group, the world’s largest yacht-building group), renowned U.S. yacht-builder Malibu, long-established Spanish firm Rodman Polyships, the U.K.’s Isara Yachts, and Japan’s Suzuki, Yamaha and Toyota.
Besides the overseas buyers who had travelled long distances to attend the Boat Show, there were also many domestic buyers. These included executives (and many owners) of leading Taiwan enterprises such as the Far Eastern Group, the Ruentex Group, the Taiyeh Group, NextMedia, TSMC, UMC, Honhai, the Want Want Group, CEC, Yageo, Giant Bicycles, Chailease, AUO, Taiwan Glass, YFY, Pegatron, Chilin Tech, the Evergreen Group, GDC, Transcend Info, Compal, IGS, Innolux, the E United Group, St. Shine Optical, and TKEC, all visiting the show in a private capacity. The Show was also attended by delegations from the Farglory Group, the Kaohsiung Business Association and the Tainan Business Association.
Taiwan Boat Show 2014 - Horizon Yachts
The Taiwan International Boat Show has spurred a new wave of purchasing demand for yachts. Taiwanese yacht manufacturers Horizon Yachts, Kha Shing Enterprises, Global Yacht Builders, Bluewater Yacht Builders, Corum Yachts Taiwan, Hsing Hang Marine, Tayana Yachts and Johnson Yachts all received orders as a result of their participation in the show.
Those at Kha Shing Enterprises were pleasantly surprised to find visitors to the Show far exceeding their expectations and said that this gave them a chance to help many realize the real possibility to one day owning a yacht. Kha Shing Enterprises itself is now negotiating the possible sale of three yachts to customers who visited them at the Show.
Global Yacht Builders commented that many of the potential buyers they had spoken with said that though boat buying is easy, they were uneasy about after show arrangements. Because of this awareness, the show has helped to inspire the development of domestic peripheral services like marina operations and yacht maintenance services said Global.
Implementation of the Taiwan International Boat Show was jointly organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and Kaohsiung City Government, with support from the Taiwan Yacht Industry Association (TYIA) and was implemented by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).
Everyone is cordially invited aboard Taiwan’s next International Boat Show.
