After nine days of the fair, the organisers counted just over 200,000 visitors, slightly fewer than in the previous year. Around a third of them travelled from abroad, from no fewer than 113 countries. This means that the leading trade fair on the Rhine has become an international hub for water sports, both for visitors and exhibitors. A total of around 1,500 companies from the nautical sector presented their products and services in Düsseldorf.
Organisers and exhibitors satisfied
At the end of the fair on Sunday evening, Managing Director Marius Berlemann expressed his satisfaction: "boot is an excellent mix of a high-calibre trade fair for all water sports sectors with contacts all over the world and exciting leisure activities for visitors from the region. Over the nine days, we have experienced a unique water sports festival, a first-class business event and a spectacular stage programme with celebrities from the sailing, diving and surfing sectors."
Robert Marx, President of boot Düsseldorf and the Federal Association of the German Water Sports Industry (BVWW), also summarises the event positively from the exhibitors' point of view: "The atmosphere at this year's boot was sensational. The fact that smaller boats in particular were in great demand and that we were able to welcome many new, very international interested parties was very interesting and stimulated the market. We have met exactly the right people here in Düsseldorf to ring in the coming season with the best contacts. This year's trade fair exceeded all expectations."
Large crowds at the premieres
Gianguido Girotti, CEO of industry leader Bénéteau, the largest exhibitor at Boot, describes the Düsseldorf trade fair as a "key event" for the boating industry. Girotti is delighted with the high number of visitors to the Bénéteau Group's stands. In particular, the brand new First 30 from the yacht builders' sports programme in France has become a real crowd puller. It was not uncommon for curious visitors to queue for a long time, even during the off-peak hours of the trade fair.
Many exciting premieres rounded off the attraction of the trade fair. The most important innovations in sailing boats have already been presented in YACHT:
- Something completely different: The amazing Wauquiez 55
- Blue is the new green: the exciting eco weekender from Grand Soleil
- The fastest boat of its size: the new Dragonfly 36
- The XR41 is set to shake up the ORC regatta scene
- Premiere with a wow effect. The brand new Saffier SL 46
- Birdyfish S. The new entry-level foiler from France
For decades, the trade fair in Düsseldorf has been regarded as the trendsetter in the industry. This year, the trend towards sustainability concepts in all areas was once again striking as visitors wandered through the halls. Marine conservation and innovative, sustainable technologies are playing an increasingly important role in water sports, and the trade fair has developed into a central platform for political and tourism decision-makers. The Blue Innovation Dock sustainability forum has become a real driver of innovation. New ideas and visions for more sustainability in boat building, the development of new propulsion systems and the management of marinas and tourism were exchanged at various events during the trade fair.
