Fira de Barcelona
| 2014 Report
Barcelona International Boat Show
15-19/October
Port Vell. 53th edition
Barcelona International Boat Show confirmed
the tendency towards recovery of a sector that,
for the first time in six years, registered positive
figures in the number of vessels registered, with
an increase of over 12%.
Over five days, the event, which featured
more than 120 new products and around 650
boats, generated a considerable volume of
business and attracted large numbers of visitors,
who took part in the more than one hundred
activities programmed. Over 54,000 national
and international visitors came to the Boat
Show, the latter mainly from France, Germany,
the UK and Russia.
The 2014 edition saw a certain change in
the visitor profile, because, besides buyers who
came to acquire boats, the show also attracted
young and family audiences interested in trying
the many ways provided to enjoy the sea. One
of the most popular features was the pool-wave
generator installed in the port, a pioneering
initiative in Europe, where more than 400 people
dared to "surf". More than ever, one of the
major objectives of this show was to enable
the general public to discover sporting and
leisure boating.
In this line, in addition to all the activities
laid on, the organisers distributed a new guide
for small craft amongst visitors with the aim
of promoting sailing for beginners, one of the
sectors that, according to the experts, will
benefit most from the reform of qualifications
approved by the Council of Ministers a few days
before the opening of the Boat Show.
In the professional sphere, the Boat Show,
which takes place at the Port Vell of Barcelona,
once more featured an extensive programme of
conferences and meetings, events that included,
particularly, the signing of a cooperation
agreement for European cooperation in
the Northern Mediterranean Region for the
economic and tourist development of marinas,
Area
52,000 m
2
Exhibitors
250
Type
Professional and public
Activities
Sea baptisms, boat
testing, workshops
on traditional sailing,
presentation of
regattas, conferences,
awards
