Dat watersporters zich niet laten afleiden, dat werd afgelopen weken wel duidelijk in Parijs. Uiteraard was er aandacht voor de aanslagen vorige maand en voor de regionale verkiezingen, maar de focus lag toch echt op de boten. Ruim 200.000 bezoekers kwamen af op de 10 daagse show.
Het officiële persbericht:
After 10 fantastic days packed with news and novel additions to the product ranges and events, the Nautic 2015 closes its doors on what has been a very on-trend show, with some reassuring figures to boot. In a general context still coloured by the shock of the attacks in Paris, and the attention focused on the regional elections, the International Paris Boat Show has brilliantly held rank by welcoming over 200,000 visitors.
Foto: Raoul Dobremel/AFP/Nautic 2015
The volume of business here was good, with some very fine performances, which are again gearing towards growth, despite a rather unfavourable environment for the leisure domain. The ever popular new features, the growth of the niche markets, development of the multihull, community-based services, the return of small boats and the unashamedly good health of boardsports are the main trends of this edition. The slight dip in visitor numbers of around 10% is essentially down to the general climate and the high stakes of the on-going regional elections, since the majority of visitors to the Nautic came from outside the capital.
Hervé Gastinel, President of Bénéteau Group:
“Ultimately, this boat show has been a great surprise given the current context. French buyers were out in force from right across the country and the quality of the visitors was really spot on. The core of the market has really been strong, as well as the motorboats and yachts. As such we confirm a recovered season for 2015/2016”.
For Gérard Lachkar, President of the AGL:
“This edition of the Nautic has been positive right across the board for the equipment sector. We’ve met up with our professional clients, who are confident about the upcoming season overall and the orders are higher than predicted. This boat show has also been an opportunity to meet new users of the products, which wasn’t necessarily a done deal prior to the show opening. The Nautic remains a very important business venue for our profession”.
The Nautic has also confirmed its position as the leading boardsports event, notably boasting the organisation of the largest Stand Up Paddle race in the world, which gathered together 500 champions on the River Seine on the first Sunday of the show. As is the case every winter, the show was a melting pot for all the major protagonists from boating and competition, with the election of the French Sailing Federation’s Sailor of the Year, the presentations of the Tour de France à la Voile, The Transat, the prize-giving for the Mini Transat, the exhibition by Groupama Team France for the America’s Cup and the majority of the major offshore racing stables, as well as the forum about the major issues of our time. The latter included the very special Environment Day as well as the European Boat Industry conference on the recycling of composite materials; key questions for the marine industry with universal implications. Finally, Brittany really rallied together for the Nautic, with a whole host of race projects as well as, and above all, the upcoming Brest Maritime Festival extravaganza in 2016!
The French Marine Industries Federation and Reed Expositions France have set a date for enthusiasts everywhere at the Cannes Yachting Festival, from 7 to 11 September 2016, and the next edition of the Nautic – International Paris Boat Show, which will run from 3 to 11 December 2016, at the Parc des Expositions, Porte de Versailles in Paris.
