Despite a 5% drop in visitors, the organisers of this year’s Hanseboot boat show in Hamburg are hailing an upward trend in confidence
Visitor numbers may have slumped by 5% at this year’s Hanseboot boat show (25 October – 2 November), but the organisers have claimed that market confidence is on the rise.
The first weekend’s attendance of 24,000 was up slightly on last year’s figure, but the overall total of 76,000 visitors was down by 4,000 when compared to the 2013 Hamburg boat show.
Despite this organisers have argued that exhibitor confidence and boat buying levels are on the rise in the German market.
Heiko Zimmermann, project director at Hanseboot, said: “Everyone who was there in the course of the event will have noticed the widespread sense of a new upward trend and confidence among exhibitors and visitors.”
His words are backed up by a survey that showed a visitor satisfaction rate of more than 70%, while 48% of visitors made a purchase on the day, up 12% on 2013’s figure.
Key attractions at the show included Canoe World and a Dinghy Newcomers arena, which allowed first timers to try out paddling, sailing and motor boating.
Newcomers were particularly drawn to motorboats – 54% said that this was their main area of interest, with models from Fairline, Elling, Linssen and Frauscher on display.
Looking to the future, the organisers have confirmed that the 56th edition of Hanseboot will run from 24 October to 1 November 2015.
