SYDNEY BOAT SHOW: The wrap and stats

With Sydney basking in sunshine for five days, the weather combined with the positive industry sentiment was instrumental in delivering what was a huge step forward for the Sydney International Boat Show and recreational marine industry.

Achieving a visitor increase of 4.3% on the previous year, 51,015 visitors streamed through the doors of the dual location event at Darling Harbour and Glebe Island.

Boating Industry Association General Manager Roy Privett said: "An increase in visitation was a definite benefit, but more important has been the industry feedback that the volume of visitors showed a true interest in engaging in the recreational boating lifestyle further.  This was reflected in sales of products above last year’s levels for many of the participating exhibitors."

Show organisers were pleased with the take-up of space with the interim venue filling, and demand for space on the marina exceeding that available. Whilst a shortage of space is not ideal, it has delivered the show organisers with a positive outlook for the future and a reassurance that its approach to the show is correct.

"This show was going to be critical for the industry and external factors were certainly going to influence the outcome. However there were many things within our control and decisions were made with this information at hand that we believed were right for the industry," Privett said.

"The majority we got right and they were reflected in the results both in attendance and exhibitor sales. Others may have not been right and we will certainly revisit them. A post event analysis is standard practice and this year will be no different," Privett said.

With more than 50,000 visitors attending and all exhibitor space occupied, the Sydney International Boat Show has remained as Australia’s premier recreational boating event. While others may make various claims, the show has again proven its benefit to industry through results, the BIA says.

The show is delivered by the Boating Industry Association (BIA) and supported by its Partner in Safety Transport for NSW, through the office of the Maritime Management Centre and its office of Roads and Maritime Services. 

Organisers are also grateful to its promotional partners, boatsales.com.au and BoatPoint.com.au, Yaffa Media, Musto, Accor Hotels, The Sydney Morning Herald, Channel 7’s Sydney Weekender and Walcon Marine Australia.

The 2017 Sydney International Boat Show is scheduled for 28 July to 1 August where it will again run a split venue before returning fully to Darling Harbour for its 50th anniversary in 2017.