Cannes Comes to a Close
With steadily increasing figures (numbers of exhibitors, boats on display, and surface area), this year's event has confirmed the show's status as Europe's no. 1 in-water boat show.
'The 31st Cannes International Boat Show has been hailed a success.'
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More prestigious, more magical and ever larger each year, the Cannes International Boat and Yacht Show will have received close to 65,000 visitors in 2008.
This 31st show has won over visitors and exhibitors alike not only through a sense of beauty and elegance that have made the 'French touch' world famous, but also through its rich offering and the quality of its organisation.
The show brings together vessels of every style and perspective, displaying the boldest designs alongside the most classic ones. Whether in the realm of yachts, superyachts, sailing boats, catamarans, power boats or RIBs, the latest technological innovations with regard to motorization, equipment, amenities or the environment reflect the vitality of an industry responding to the expectations of an ever more demanding public from all over the world.
For the show, this dynamism and vitality have been expressed this year again both in water and on land:
* More boats on display: 600 in 2008 compared to 570 in 2007
* More square metres of exhibition space: 95,000 compared to 80,000 in 2007
* 3.3 kms of pontoons added to accommodate the new boats and facilitate access to every area of the show, with a crossover pontoon now linking the Multihull section to Quai Saint-Pierre.
* A new area on the Quai du Large, making it possible to present 13 of the world's finest yachts.
* An even more specialised selection of boats on display
A 'must' showcase for the industry, the event hosted the world previews of more than 250 new models presented in the Vieux Port to buyers and visitors from all over the world.
Port Pierre Canto, now in its 3rd year, grouped together the most eminent players in American and European brokerage business; a booming sector as well, proposing a selection of some of the most magnificent second-hand vessels in the world. The brokers have thus confirmed their rightful presence at the show which offers them many opportunities and new occasions to go and meet their customers.
Stats and Facts:
* 50% of the visitors and trade professionals came from abroad (compared to 40% in 2007, 30% in 2006, 13% in 2004 and 6% in 2000).
* 46% of the visitors come from socioeconomic categories with elevated buying power (34% in 2007)
* 30% of them declared they came to the show intending to make a purchase.
Yachts and boats transported from every continent: the 2008 show has brought together close to 70% foreign exhibitors from 34 countries (compared with 26 in 2007): Europe, North America, Asia, Middle East, and Oceania.
More generally, it is necessary to emphasize the sustained increase in the French boat production over the past few years. In 2007, it reached ?1,288 million compared to ?1,166 million in 2006; the first estimations dealing with the period from 1st September 2007 to 31st August 2008 confirm this trend with a growth of about 5%, an all together outstanding performance in a tense economic situation. (Source: F?d?ration des Industries Nautiques)
Figures from the 31st Cannes International Boat and Yacht Show:
* 600 boats displayed in water (Vieux Port and Port Canto), 87% from abroad
* 250 new models
* 230 boats over 20 metres long
* 520 exhibitors from 34 pays
* 95,000 m? of exhibition space
by Agathe Deschars - agence olivia payerne 
Bermagui, NSW
