Editor's ColumnRobin Copeland

Sydney Boat Show underlines boating industry resurgence

Unless you have been maintaining an extremely low profile, you’d be well aware that the 43rd Sydney International Boat Show is on from 29 July – 2 August.
For five days, Darling Harbour presents as Australian boating’s ‘shop window’ as millions of dollars worth of boats and assorted marine equipment goes on display representing an industry that is valued at more than $7.8 billion and employs more than 28,000 people full-time.
Sydney certainly embraces the exhibition. Since its inaugural year in 1968 at Moore Park, 3,020,077 people have flocked to its various venues.
The largest recreational boating exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere has become a major occupant of the city’s annual calendar of events. It is the only one to ever approach the ‘magic’ 100,000 attendance figure, topping more than 93,000 a couple of years ago. This year, organisers are anticipating 80,000-plus to turn up for the show.
Domenic Genua, Marketing and Event Manager for show owner and organiser, the Boating Industry Association of NSW has recently returned from the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO) 48th annual Congress in Chicago representing 24 boat shows.
According to Genua 15 shows had planned for increased budgets, six shows were steady and three planned for a decrease.
“It was also evident that the growth in the marine industry in China is travelling very fast,” he said. “While it will take some time before boating becomes a serious leisure pastime for the masses, boat builders are in their thousands, with a handful producing large numbers and having considerable success exporting.”
Internationally the Sydney Show compares very favourably and is at the forefront innovatively.
“A number of changes being implemented into shows around the world are things that we have already implemented at Sydney,” Genua said.
The conference also highlighted how many things Sydney is doing right. Some shows, based on past success or their physical size were quite overwhelming. They were glorified boat yards. The reality is that our small population across such a large geographical area will mean that we will never reach the size and volume that some of these other international shows achieve.
“Typically, the size of the boat show is driven by market demand (and to a certain degree market sentiment and confidence in the event),” Genua said.
“Our plan this year was to occupy only five halls in Darling Harbour. However, the very early sell-out of this space meant that we had to do a couple of quicksteps with our landlords to allow us to occupy Hall 6 as well.”
Reinforcing this upward trend is Afloat’s own experience. Growth in demand for advertising continues to increase, this month we publish our second largest issue ever … 120 pages.
The future of the boating industry in Australia is indeed looking strong.
Robin Copeland