The Strategic Plan for relaunching the nautical industry: legislative proposals, set out in the Nautica Italiana’s Manifesto, and events for the growth of Made in Italy products.
Two months from its official formation, NAUTICA ITALIANA, the association created with the aim of grouping together high-end companies from the entire sector — Industry, Services and Territories — to define the strategy for the system-wide development of the nautical industry both at national and international levels, is stronger and is presenting the market with important proposals.
The number of its members has already increased from 25 to as many as 44 high-end brands, representing more than 80% of the value of Italy’s shipbuilding production and a total turnover, including services, exceeding €1.2 billion.
The constant growth in the consensus that operators, representing not only the production industry but increasingly also Services and Territory, express on Nautica Italiana’s plan confirms the need to rapidly pursue the goals set by the Association:
a. Promoting the nautical product and service as an expression of Made in Italy products
b. Restoring the sector’s deserved high reputational level
c. Supporting exports and the domestic market’s recovery.
It is within this framework that Nautica Italiana presents “Nautica 365”, a 360° strategic project for 365 days of the year, which, consistently with the objectives, is based on three main cornerstones:
a. Concrete legislative proposals to support growth: introduction of Nautica Italiana’s Manifesto
b. Translation of the Charter of Values into concrete tools: introduction of the “Ethical Contract” to ensure professionalism and transparency
c. National and international promotion plan: defining a new events strategy for the sector.
Nautica Italiana’s manifesto
The Association, with a clear understanding of the absolute need to give a fresh boost to the sector by first defining the regulatory framework to correct a number of distortions and thereby restore full confidence and clarity both amongst operators and national and international customers, is setting out nine essential proposals in “Nautica Italiana’s Manifesto”, representing a series of measures that can be implemented together through a clear, integrated regulatory system, for five strategic areas.
– Tax regime and transparency
– Development of the small and medium-sized nautical industry
– Support to the Large Yacht industry and its services
– Support to the operators of Marinas and infrastructures
– Streamlining of procedures
The nine proposals are:
1. A “Bollino Oro” to carry out controls directly on land rather than at sea
2. A moratorium on onboard controls until the Registro Telematico (Online Register) is adopted
3. Creation of reception facilities for boats, managed on a non-profit making basis
4. Establishment of a competitive Italian Register for large commercial yachts
5. Regulations for professional qualifications in line with those in other European countries
6. Uniform application of VAT at 6.6% for pleasure boat charter
7. Maintenance of State contractual agreements for marina concessions
8. Issue of the main Decrees implementing the Nautical Code within 12 months
9. The definitive simplification of bureaucracy and regulations
By working alongside institutions, Nautica Italiana should be able to ensure concrete and important results for the nautical sector and, consequently, for employment dynamics, against a minimal economic impact for the Italian government.
Ethical contract
Recognising the existing reputational deficit that unfairly penalises Italian industries operating on international markets, the Association has, since the moment it was first established, considered the “Charter of Values” to be an integral and essential part of its Articles of Association. The Charter lays down rules, principles and ethical and behavioural values for the associate companies. The “Ethical Contract” was created in order to translate all these principles into a concrete and direct benefit for customers, helping to support the credibility of operators. The majority of operators in the industry, as members of Nautica Italiana, undertake to adopt this Contract, the essential contents of which are:
– Constant and prompt customer information of any deviation from the conditions agreed
– Observance of the technical and identifying characteristics of components, as provided for by contractual conditions
– Undertaking to comply with workplace safety, social ethics and environmental protection principles.
A new events strategy
Starting from a detailed analysis of the overall scenario, the priorities for international growth and the sector’s needs for support with promotion on the domestic market, Nautica Italiana has prepared a promotion strategy based on the development of new events dedicated to the sector, in collaboration with professional partners, and supplemented by new formulae for presence at existing national and international events. A plan with a development timescale (spring/summer) that takes account of the opportunity to arrange previews ahead of the main European Boat Show calendar, and which is located geographically to meet the needs of optimising operators’ logistic organisation.
The crucial points of this strategy will be the organisation of two important exhibition events: one dedicated to small and medium-sized nautical businesses, which will ideally take place in
the spring, in the region of Liguria or Tuscany; and one with a strong international focus dedicated to the large-scale nautical industry which will ideally be held in the summer, in the region of Campania or Sardinia.
In parallel, again in collaboration with professional partners and in synergy with Fondazione Altagamma, Nautica Italiana is developing innovative formats for its presence at the main foreign events to promote the Italian Yachting Lifestyle, as well as a programme of initiatives accompanying the major events designed to bring the nautical sector to the fore for all of the 365 days of the year.
Monitoring the industry
Finally, in keeping with the work programme previously announced, Nautica Italiana has started to organise the collection and analysis of data and statistics on production and sales relating to the national and international markets, in order to provide operators with a comprehensive and reliable tool.
