News
On 3rd September, at the Milan headquarters of Il Sole 24 Ore, details were revealed about the upcoming 58th Genoa International Boat Show, organised by UCINA (the Italian Marine Industry Association) and scheduled to take place between 20th and 25th September. The Mayor of Genoa, Marco Bucci, was among the speakers alongside Liguria’s Maritime Director and Commander of the Port of Genoa, Admiral Nicola Carlone, the President of the region of Liguria, Giovanni Toti, the President of UCINA, Carla Demaria, and the Director General of ITA (the Italian Trade Agency), Piergiorgio Borgogelli. Moderating the press conference was Deputy Editor of Il Sole 24 Ore, Alessandro Plateroti.
The International Boat Show will be the first international showcase for the city and an opportunity to welcome visitors and operators from across the globe after the tragic events concerning the Morandi bridge. The Boat Show will be working at full throttle, fully aware of Genoa’s expectations, now greater than ever.
Marco Bucci, Mayor of Genoa: “The Genoa International Boat Show is an important opportunity to show the world that Genoa is thriving and is set on becoming the Mediterranean’s leading city. The Morandi bridge tragedy will not discourage this growing trend. I expect to see an excellent Boat Show with more exhibitors and visitors than in 2017. Genoa will offer its best in art, leisure and events, the high quality of which will surpass even that of last year’s edition. As for road access, we are working on opening a new road that will be accessible before the opening of the International Boat Show. For now, the roads are already back to functioning as they should, so I am positive there will be no mobility issues when it comes to the Show”.
Giovanni Toti, President of the region of Liguria: “What we should take away from today is the demonstrated will to stay united and to unite. This is the message that has come across during these past days and it will be the same throughout the International Boat Show. The Boat Show has shown me an unparalleled level of willpower and tenacity for 58 editions. It will be the first event where the enthusiasm and dedication with which we have worked so hard will be showcased not just to the rest of Italy, but to the entire world. It will be a brilliant Show and a perfect chance to see a beautiful city and its country reborn after such a tragic event. Lots of people will come to see the Boat Show and admire the beauty of Genoa and its ability to organise and work as a community to plan the future together. Just like what we have been doing with the International Boat Show all these years”.
Edoardo Rixi, Undersecretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport: “Today, there is already a plan underway between the Government and UCINA to review the regulations and relative points that are yet to be sorted, to consolidate this sector’s growth. We must use the International Boat Show to show the world what the Italian System and the leisure boating industry are capable of achieving. Prosperity can come from the sea: the sector’s growth can create jobs and resources for the entire country. Today, let us use this press conference for the 58th Genoa International Boat Show to tell the world that the Italian boating sector is ready to take back its rightful place as leader of the European and global market”.
Carla Demaria, President of UCINA: “Genoa will be able to count on the International Boat Show as a key testing ground and a showcase for its beauty. There is no alternative. This will be the greatest Genoa International Boat Show to date”.
The president of UCINA then continued to state: “The International Boat Show is fully aware of its responsibility to prove Genoa is capable of giving its all to overcome such a tragedy. We have been hard at work, in respectful silence, because we felt a heavy sense of responsibility towards both the companies of our industry and the city that hosts the Show. It is clear that the International Boat Show is a tool worth protecting. No-one hesitated. For 58 years we have proudly given our all for Genoa”.
The 58th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show is part of a favourable global, European and Italian economic context. A growing trend that is consolidated for the Italian boating industry by a two-digit overall revenue increase, yet again. As always, the industry data is recorded in the latest edition of La Nautica in Cifre, compiled by UCINA’s Market Research Department, in partnership with the Edison Foundation and the Italian leasing association, Assilea, and under the patronage of the Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport, set to be published on 20th September this year.
“The domestic market continues to grow (+15.4%), boosted by the leasing sector which recorded a 58% increase in stipulated contracts in 2017. In the first 5 months of 2018, leasing recorded a 29% growth in value compared to the same period of the previous year”.
All exhibitors from the last edition have confirmed they will return for 2018. We are now up to 948 exhibitors, reaching a 7.2% increase compared to 2017. There will also be 62 new entries, of which 58% will be from abroad. This edition has been developed in a way which gives value to each market segment’s individual identity, in an attempt to strengthen the increasingly specialised nature of the International Boat Show, which this year will host 4 specialised boat shows within itself.
“In view of the 2018 edition of the Genoa International Boat Show, ITA, by means of the Extraordinary Made in Italy Promotion Plan, launched by the Ministry for Economic Development, and UCINA organised an international press and operator tour – stated Carla Demaria. “As confirmation of the global significance of the event, there will be 73 journalists from the world’s most important newspapers and 87 foreign buyers from 27 countries. Already, more than 800 events have been scheduled involving 1648 Italian operators”.
Piergiorgio Borgogelli, ITA Director General, added: “The leisure boating industry is a highly export-focused industry that contributes 9% of the commercial budget. This year at the Genoa International Boat Show, the one and only point of reference and crown jewel for the entire supply chain, we will attract the very best of international distribution and press. Since last year, the Show’s activities have been focussed not only on communication during the event itself but also on an effective follow-up campaign aimed at keeping the International Boat Show’s message alive throughout the whole year. In addition to these initiatives, we must not forget our presence at all the leading fairs abroad, in collaboration with UCINA”.
Alessandro Campagna, Commercial Director of the International Boat Show: “The International Boat Show has grown from content to container, hosting, in turn, four tailored Boat Shows: accessories and components (tech trade surface: 12,000m2 and a 16.8% increase in exhibitors), outboard (+23% on 22,000m2 of display area and 24,000m2 of water surface), sailing (the average size of vessels displayed is growing over 16,000m2 of display area and 18,000m2 of water surface), yachts & superyachts (+13%, 46 more boats on 21,000m2 of display area and 62,000m2 of water surface)”.
The flagships of the International Boat Show will be, for sails, the Mylius 80’ and, for motors, the new 48-metre T-Line from the historical Baglietto shipyard.
The 58th Genoa International Boat Show is a global platform for institutional, technical and market dialogue. Six days dedicated to back-to-back institutional ForumUCINA conferences, workshops, events and sports award ceremonies, including for the Millevele regatta, organised by the Italian Yacht Club. In addition to these initiatives, the Show will also be offering Sea Experience activities, where visitors will be able to try out the latest in water sports and the programme of events outside the Boat Show, across the city during the GenovaInBlu dates.
This year’s edition of the Genoa Boat Show will boast a prestigious line-up of partners: Bentley will be the official car for the 58th International Boat Show and Breitling will be the event’s official watch. Main sponsors will be Fastweb and Samsung, and other sponsors include Afex, Banca Carige, Tenuta San Pietro, VisionOttica. Technical partners: Eataly, Compagnia dei Caraibi, Sail-O. Sponsors and partners share the vision and project of the 58th International Boat Show and play an active role throughout the event by offering services dedicated to exhibitors and visitors alike.
Equally significant, in view of ensuring the highest quality for individual, more targeted services, is the VIP Lounge, a format conceived to welcome national and international guests in a refined space, rich with events and artistic performances. The VIP Lounge partners include Circle Dynamic Luxury Magazine, Marchesi Antinori, Gaggenau, Cortese – Premium Soft Drink, Fondazione Lucia Matalon, Omlog, Giorgetti, Sandrini and Vesoi.
