Expo a big success

Organisers of the  2015 Gold Coast International Marine Expo at Coomera have said the biggest Expo ever has provided the Australian marine industry with a much-needed economic boost that will continue to be measured for weeks and even months to come.

"Everyone from luxury motor yacht owners, multihull and mono-hull sailors right through to trailer boat enthusiasts were all here in force… and I am sure we also inspired many more families to get out and enjoy the unique and rewarding boating life," said Expo's Emma Milne.

Ms Milne said the not-for-profit Expo – now in its fifth year – this year spanned over 50 hectares and encompassed four event sites and three marinas, and attracted 17,024 visitors, reflecting an increase of 12 per cent for 2015.

"It is important to be truthful about visitor numbers and it will take a little time to assimilate an exact number of visitors from outside of South East Queensland, but we do expect that figure to be over 30 per cent of our total," she said.

"Our visitors told us throughout the four days that they liked the relaxing, welcoming and fun Expo atmosphere, as well as the vast array of displays, demonstrations and attractions, the free parking at the gate, the free ferry within the Expo and the free courtesy buses linking sites and parking – and those comments are being actively echoed across social media."

Among those exhibitors attributing sales, and quite incredible ones at that, to the 2015 Expo included Rodney Longhurst of Riviera who said: "We are proud to report the sale of 12 new yachts following our largest-ever Australian display and we expect more in the coming weeks spanning our entire luxury range of SUV, Sport Yacht and Flybridge yachts."

Shawn Hale of Gold Coast Waverunners was also chuffed with the Expo saying: "We’ve done very well – we have sold six jet skis here and we expect more in the coming weeks. It is a very friendly show."

But there's more to the Expo than boats and we'll let Damien Webber from Raymarine to have the last word: "The Expo gives us exposure to our customers at both ends of the spectrum. There’s a great deal of interest at the higher-end in our thermal imaging technology – luxury yacht owners have read about it and here they can validate it all – they can come and look, feel and touch it and see how it enhances night-time navigation, particularly at the dock. Our new Dragonfly fish-finders and WiFish were very popular with the general boating public too.