2022 Melbourne International Boat Show planning kicks off

The Boating Industry Association of Victoria announced last week it had opened up invitations for next year’s show after boat makers put their money behind a move to shift the event to next year.

The 2021 Melbourne International Boat Show was cancelled earlier this month after boat brands flagged a post-COVID boom in new boat sales they would not have enough boats to fill displays at the event.

However, many have now set their sights on the 2022 event.

“The rate at which exhibitors have been rolling their 2021 instalments into 2022 deposits has been outstanding” BIAV chief executive Steve Walker said.

“As well as that, every single respondent so far, to the request to make a minimum $5000 deposit for 2022, has agreed to do so,” he said.

“It is really gaining momentum.”

To help with planning for the 2022 show, the BIAV aims to have its list of exhibitors locked in by the end of next month – a year ahead of the event – with organisers expecting little to no waning of interest as old and new boaters look to the water for an escape from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The hot market for boats and boating is expected to continue through the year and well into next year,” it said.

“The 2022 show has the potential to be enormous and for exhibitors to make the most of it and really capitalise on the market and all of the new people coming into it,” the BIAV said.

“The earlier, and the better the planning, the more the chances of success.”

The 2022 Melbourne International Boat Show will run from June 16-19.

The BIAV has flagged it also plans to hold a series of other smaller events later this year and early in 2022 to help the Victorian industry recover from the pandemic, including months of some of the harshest coronavirus-related lockdowns worldwide.