KIBS incentives for exhibitors

2:01 AM Mon 9 Mar 2009 GMT

'Jeongok Marina, Hwaseong City Korea'

Thanks to the generous budget of the Gyeong-Gi Provincial Government, the Korea International Boat Show, 2-7 June 2009, is offering a range of incentives and benefits for foreign exhibitors interested in participating in the event.

. Providing free domestic conveyance: boats over 20ft will be carried by local transportation company appointed by the organizer. This is available to exhibitors registered prior 31 March 2009 and valued at up to KRW 10,000,000 per boat.
. Complimentary Hotel accommodation: overseas exhibitors will receive free hotel accommodation during the period of the event covering 1-8 June.
. Selective exemptions and reduction of exhibition booth fee: Available to exhibitors registered and paid for by 31 March. Booth fees may be reduced by 50-100% for mid-size to large boats.
. Information booths for foreign associations and research/education institutions. Up to 2 booths are available at no charge. There is a fee for additional space.

This array of incentives is just part of the offering the KIBS organizers and the Gyeong-Gi government are extending to encourage exhibitors and visitors to the 2nd annual show.
The main aim is to become the preeminent show of its kind in the region within 5 years and "the number one leisure marine industry gateway for the Far East".

Governor Kim Moon-Soo - 2008 Korea International Boat Show Show Promotion - Marine Business News_.

Crucial to its positioning will be the Marine Industry Conference coinciding with the show. Other aims for the Conference will be to aid the development of the 'Boating Industry Zone' in Gyeonggi and for it to become a regional centre of excellence for the industry and to encourage the establishment of the higher added value sector of the industry in Korea.

The 2009 event will have an enlarged range of events both on and off the water with many new exciting features. The completion of the new Marina complex at the Jeongok show site will provide berths for over 100 boats afloat. On land, the improved dedicated show site will have increased exhibition space for all categories of boats and marine equipment, lifestyle activities, conferences, concerts, fashion shows, and much more. NEW in 2009 will be the addition to the show of a dedicated marina equipment, resources and specialist work boat sector aimed at the rapidly developing infrastructure sector.

In its first year, the show received over 350,000 visitors, making it instantly one of the world's most highly attended boat shows (compare this to 112,000 for this year's London Boat Show or even 238,000 for Dusseldorf, Europe's biggest boat show). This is hardly surprising, with a local population of over 22 million living within 50 miles of the boat show site hungry for new leisure activities. With a total exhibition area of 170,000sqm (three quarters the size of Dusseldorf), in air conditioned halls, outside display areas and a temporary marina, 240 companies exhibited from over 30 countries in 2008.

The 2008 show, the first event of its kind in Korea, saw the participation of most of the world's leading boating brands amongst the 240 exhibitors and accounted for total sales attributable to the show of USD 366 million including on-site sales amounting to approximately USD 60 million.
High satisfaction was reflected in the responses given to the show exhibitor surveys with 75% of the respondents indicating their intention to participate in 2009.

For information telephone Graham Worthington, KOTRA Sydney
Tel: (02) 9264-5199. More at www.koreaboatshow.org

by Jeni Bone

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