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NEWS
2014 SYDNEY BOAT SHOW: Day-tripper numbers drop
The 2014 Sydney boat show attracted 48,903 visitors, down 17 per cent on last yearThe final visitation numbers for the 2014 Sydney International Boat Show have been revealed. Just 48,903 visitors attended the show, down 17 per cent on last year. Event organisers, the Boating Industry Association of NSW (BIA NSW), attribute the drop in numbers to challenging economic sentiment and perceptions that travelling and parking at the show would be difficult.
The 2014 Sydney International Boat Show was held at dual locations for the first time, resulting in exhibitor numbers and official crowd numbers being well down on last year's event held. But event organisers say the lessons learned from this year’s show will make a good foundation for their planning moving forward.
"We went into this year’s event with so many plans and back-up plans. Even then we experienced a number of anomalies that we were not expecting. Nevertheless, the end result by all accounts was that the majority of exhibitors were more than happy. We know that we can’t please everyone, which has been the case for the 26 years I have been involved, but given the unusual circumstances of this year, the feedback given to me personally, as well as the team has been both encouraging and rewarding," said Roy Privett, General Manager for the BIANSW.
The 2015 Sydney International Boat Show will remain in the two locations of Darling Harbour and Glebe Island while awaiting the opening in December 2016 of the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney). The new venue is being billed as Asia Pacific’s premier business events precinct.
"We were able to entice almost 50,000 visitors to the show. This is in-line with our forecasting and we achieved the Association's gate budget. Obviously, we would have liked more visitors, but it did not happen," Privett adds.
"Whilst it would be easy to tell you otherwise, the visitor numbers are what they are. We believe that reporting otherwise is of no benefit to our industry or ourselves.
"On the flip side, the ongoing positive visitor and exhibitor reports are heartening. And it has to be said that recreational boating was delivered in the best possible way to both regular boaties as well as those considering the lifestyle," Privett said.
But the figures don't lie. Marketing & Events Manager for the Association, Domenic Genua said while the BIA NSW's post-show analysis continues, preliminary information is that the local “day-trip” market did not attend.
"With a positive customer experience in mind and in order to avoid localised traffic congestion, our communications weighed heavily on educating the public about transport options. Maybe that message may have been interpreted by some that people cannot drive to the show. Through our research we know that more than half of our audience do drive and our messaging may have been to our detriment. This will be something we look at closely for next year," Genua said.
The 2015 Show is scheduled from July 30 to the August 3. The Sydney International Boat Show was joined and supported by their Partner in Safety, Transport for NSW to ensure visitors were up to date on the latest information to help make their time on the water a better and safer experience.
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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