The revamped show attracted around 115,000 visitors.

The revamped Genoa International Boat Show, held from October 2-6 at the Genoa Fair and Exhibition Center, attracted 115,000 visitors this year – a 35 per cent drop over last year’s figures.

The event, which was scheduled one week earlier than the 2012 edition, ran for just five days instead of the usual nine, reflecting the wishes of exhibitors to cut costs and create a more intense atmosphere when making contacts.

The redesigned layout included a newly built ‘Red Wall’ that led visitors from the ticket area to the new Pavilion B, through the various exhibition spaces. The wall quickly became the symbol of the renewed event, which covered an 18,000sq m display area.

Around 750 exhibitors were in attendance (vs 900 in 2012), and 1,000 boats were displayed both on land and water. More than 550 meetings were also held for professionals from 14 countries, along with 14 conferences and over 1,200 sea trials.

“These results are very satisfactory and reflect the effort made in these months to offer a new boat show in tune with the present market and close to the needs of both exhibitors and public,” said show organiser Fiera di Genova and industry association UCINA.

“In particular, exhibitors have noted a quiet optimism and signs of interest and vitality in a market which, we mustn’t forget, has lost 60 per cent of its turnover in the last five years.” (https://plus.ibinews.com, 8 October 2013)
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