Final press release: boot Düsseldorf 2010 is encouraging

Over 240,000 people visited the world’s largest trade fair for yachting and water sports in Düsseldorf/All expectations exceeded/Enjoy a 360° Water Sports Experience: New concept a resounding success

Over 240,000 people visited the world’s largest trade fair for yachting and water sports in Düsseldorf/All expectations exceeded/Enjoy a 360° Water Sports Experience: New concept a resounding success

After a very difficult economic year in 2009, the yachting and water sports industry is looking ahead to the future with confidence.  Some 240,200 water sports enthusiasts from over 60 different countries showed cause for optimism at boot Düsseldorf 2010, which ended on Sunday 31st of January, as well as generating good business in many segments of the range on offer at the fair, a slight increase on last year, which saw 238,000 visitors pass through the doors of the exhibition centre in Düsseldorf. Over the nine days of the fair a total of 1,568 exhibitors from 55 countries presented boat debuts, new items of water sports equipment and accessories in 17 exhibition halls.

“We achieved our targets to the full! Not only did we succeed in giving the industry an important boost, we were also able to interest more young people and families in water sports and the leading fair in the industry, boot in Düsseldorf,” said Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, Chairman and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. “The concept, which aimed to place greater emphasis on hands-on events where people could get involved and experience water sports for themselves in the halls at the fair, was a resounding success. It was just a pity that the extreme winter conditions prevented some potential visitors from attending boot. Following the healthy rise in the number of visitors in the first few days the numbers ebbed, ending up with only a slight increase on last year by the end of the fair.”

Jürgen Tracht, Managing Director of the German Marine Federation (BVWW) based in Cologne, was also very positive about this year’s fair. “boot encouraged the entire industry. The bottom of the curve had been reached. The visitors at the stands were eager to buy, very knowledgeable, international and also very satisfactory in terms of numbers. The well-received programme of events demonstrates that our industry has potential and that we are capable of mobilising this potential.”  

The first representative surveys of the visitors support these statements. In particular younger visitors, interested in trend sports, were very satisfied with the range on offer in this segment, with 64% giving it good marks.

About 50,000 visitors to this year’s boot came from abroad and a third of the visitors came from the south, east or north of Germany.

The visitors’ darling at boot was the sailing boat, with almost half of the visitors showing an interest in sailing boats. Some 35% of the visitors were especially interested in motor boats, and about 37% were most interested in boating equipment and accessories. Almost a quarter of the visitors came to see the diving fair, and the “Big Blue Holiday World” maritime travel market was the main attraction for 28%.

The market for sailing boats and sailing yachts has picked up considerable momentum according to the Managing Director of the BVWW, Jürgen Tracht. Sales are more buoyant than they were last year, with business primarily profiting from more competitive prices. The most popular segment was boats up to 12 metres in length.   

Small motor boats are in great demand, and the demand for motor boats in the medium-sized segment is at about the same level as last year.

Business is rather sluggish for large yachts, but the industry was able to make some excellent contacts at boot 2010, maintain relationships with existing customers and make some specific offers, giving cause for optimism for brisk post-fair business.

The diving industry is very satisfied and perceives a strong upwards trend. More visitors and good sales figures characterised the entire duration of the fair in this segment.

The exhibitors of high quality boat equipment and accessories were also satisfied with boot 2010. The topics of value retention and upgrading boats remain hot topics.

People aren’t skimping on their holidays, that much is certain! The charter companies and exhibitors in the area of water tourism reported that sales figures were up on last year, with many describing boot 2010 as the best fair for years. The international charter areas around the Mediterranean and the German inland waterways where you can sail without a licence are very popular.

The 14 theme parks at boot, in particular the Sailing Center, the Big Blue Holiday World, the Diving Center and Beach World, also proved a big hit with the visitors. Not only did the Action Center in Hall 1 hit the mark for the younger water sports enthusiasts, it was also a big hit with the industry’s exhibitors, who definitely aim to be a part of it again next year.

boot Düsseldorf 2010 left none of its visitors dissatisfied, with an amazing 96% of those surveyed reporting that their expectations were met in full.

boot Düsseldorf 2011 is scheduled to take place from 22 - 30 January 2011.

Düsseldorf, 31 January 2010

Press contact:
Press & PR for boot Düsseldorf
Manuela Preinbergs
Tel. +49 (211) 4560-542
Fax +49 (211) 4560-87-542
e-mail:
www.boat-duesseldorf.com/

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