The recent staging of boot Düsseldorf – 47th International Boat Show – closed with a 2.8% visitor increase (compared to the 2015 event) and very positive reviews. A total of 247,000 visitors from 52 countries experienced the largest water sports event in 17 exhibition halls. The 1,800 exhibitors reported very interested visitors, eager to make purchases. Exhibitor statements such as “Düsseldorf is always worth it” summarize the success of boot 2016.
boot 2016 featured 1,800 boats and yachts, the latest trend sports such as wake- and skimboarding as well as kitesurfing, diving, fishing, canoeing and cruising, presenting a board overview of the sector. Water sports enthusiasts were extremely impressed, with 97.5% giving boot Düsseldorf top ratings. The trade fair organizers are also very pleased with the result of boot. “It is so much fun starting the trade fair year with boot. Walking around the halls you could see happy exhibitors and great visitors, with exactly the right combination of trade representatives and private water sports enthusiasts. In gloomy January, boot 2016 was a professional party that made everyone look forward to water activities,” stated Werner M. Dornscheidt, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf.
Sailing and sailing boats are traditionally the most popular segments at boot, followed by motor boats, diving and accessories/equipment. boot Director Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel commented: “Very impressive is also the strong interest in luxury yachts, which shows that we here in Düsseldorf have exactly the right clientele for this high-price segment.” The “Cruise Pavilion”, offering a large variety of cruise options which could be booked right on show-site was also popular. Young visitors were attracted to the Beach World with its pool to try wake- and skimboarding or kitesurfing. Other favorites were water tourism, chartering and fishing. “And our fans are loyal to us,” reported Goetz-Uwe Jungmichel. In boot’s 47th year history, many visitors first came to the show as children and are now passing their passion on to the next generation.
The companies exhibiting complimented the trade fair on the further increase in the quality of the professional visitors. Specialists from the boot industry, the tourism industry and the service sector in particular took advantage of boot 2016 to hold in-depth discussions and place orders with the exhibitors. More than 50,000 visitors came to Düsseldorf this year from European countries outside Germany and from overseas. For Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel this is a clear indication of the leading global position of boot Düsseldorf: “We are the top boat trade fair for international experts in particular, since we cover the entire maritime sector every year. Since the exhibitors bring both boats and equipment to our event, visitors are able to obtain a realistic insight into everything that is available.”
The successful year experienced by the water sports industry in 2015 had a definite impact on the trade fair this year. Both private water sports enthusiasts and trade visitors were very keen to invest. Jürgen Tracht, Director of the German Association of the Water Sports Industry, was therefore delighted with boot 2016: “We are very satisfied. boot gave our industry major additional momentum, which will produce positive results in the course of the year. This is clear confirmation of the forecasts we made before the event. We are expecting the uptrend in the water sports industry to continue in future as well. Almost 90% of the companies anticipate that the market will be expanding even more in the coming two to three years. The maritime economy is demonstrating impressive stability, with single-digit growth rates in practically all market sectors.”
On March 1, Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel will leave Messe Düsseldorf to take over the position of Secretary General and Director of the German Sailing Association (DSV) but will still be associated with boot since DSV is a partner organization of boot. The new boot Director will be Petros Michelidakis, an experienced trade fair manager who has been working for Messe Düsseldorf for years in the foreign representative office in Greece. “The new boot manager knows us inside and out and is familiar with boot as well as the trade fair and sales management concept. He will continue to promote the market-oriented focus of boot and ensure its leading position,” remarked Matthias M. Dornscheidt.
