Demaria is optimistic about the upcoming Genoa Boat Show

Carla Demaria, Ucina’s president, has no doubts on the positive outcome of the next Genoa Boat Show. After preserving the show during the hardest years of the crisis, Genoa confirms to be part of the national schedule because it fits its criteria, and, according to Demaria, there is no other showcase in Italy which could do the same.
All clues are, in fact, very positive: the B pavillion dedicated to the outboard was sold out only ten days after the opening of registrations, and the 57% of last year’s exhibitors has increased their investments in spaces and number of boats displayed.
According to the Maria, the expected positive outcome of the show is confirmed by the market itself: “Ucina has worked to develop a good show, but the market also helps us very much – she said – Data on the nautical leasing  given by Assilea confirm it; a growth of 44% of the contracts signed and of 26% in value in the first five months of 2016 compared to the first five months of 2015. They are Italian clients, meaning that the internal market has restarted. To this, a 17% growth of the global turnover of the Italian nautical industry in 2015 compared to 2014, a +40% in the outboard sector in the last two years are to be added. And if the internal market is restarting, also the foreign exhibitors are coming back to the show, a fact that encourages us very much.”
Such a promising premise has been made possible also by a fruitful dialog with institutions, which resulted in various initiatives such as the blue label for the reduction of controls, the reduction of VAT to the 10% for the marinas such as touristic resorts.
About the fact that the big brands are deserting the show, Demaria is sincerely sorry, but she comments: “Even more sorry is their dealer network.” In her opinion, they made a mistake and missed a very valuable chance. Superyacht builders will not be missing at the show, however: Sanlorenzo, the second biggest shipbuilder in the world, which sells the 15% of its production in Italy, is attending the Genoa Boat Show.
Even if Demaria doesn’t certainly agree with the choice of deserting Genoa, she says she is ready to consider side events, even specific trade events, and she is willing to find a common ground for discussion and shared initiatives, but “no alternative to Genoa can be imagined”.