The Irish Marine Trade has been giving its reaction to today's cancellation of the giant German Boat Show, Boot Dusseldorf that was scheduled for April and a key show for the Irish industry.
As Afloat reported earlier, the world’s largest indoor boat show fell due to the ongoing high infection numbers across all of Europe.
Boot had been steadily attracting more and more Irish visitors after the collapse of the London Boat Show and the availability of direct flights between Dublin and Dusseldorf.
But while key members of the Irish trade are 'disappointed' at the loss of the European industry showcase event, the view is that it was not unexpected and many new models can be viewed at home this Spring subject to guidelines.
Typically, Ireland was represented on many of the major marques at Boot across the 17 halls and in both sail and power brands.
"At a time when the Covid19 pandemic is running rife through European countries, and the necessarily strict public health protocols that are in place for the foreseeable future, the priority is rightly to the health of exhibitors, visitors and service providers, Irish Marine Federation Chairman Paal Janson told Afloat.
IMF Chairman Paal Janson at Dun Laoghaire Marina
"It is also a cruel blow to the many Irish leisure marine businesses who rely on the very significant trade that is done at this annual show. Irish consumers too will undoubtedly miss the opportunity to visit the biggest indoor boat and marine leisure show in the world" Janson said.
Manufacturers and retailers have adapted remarkably well and the online content for boats and equipment has improved vastly.
Janson says dealers are also offering bespoke video tours of their stock boats to prospective customers. "Irish Marine Federation members are already seeing a pick up in interest from the public and see 2021 as being another busy year with people enjoying family time afloat in their local marinas and harbours, as they did in 2020".
While safe foreign travel is still an unknown undertaking, boating remains a safe and responsible leisure activity enjoyed by people of all ages, the IMF chair told Afloat.
Leading Irish dealer Gerry Salmon of MGM Boats also told Afloat today's decision was not unexpected.
MGM Boats John O'Kane (left) from Belfast Lough with Martin (centre) and Gerry Salmon of MGM Boats in Dublin on board at a previous boot Dusseldorf Prestige stand
The Dun Laoghaire firm took an annual brokerage stand in Dusseldorf but they have already hatched alternative arrangements. "We will be hosting several showcase events featuring our new models for this coming season when guidelines permit, and our boatyard here in Dun Laoghaire along with Dun Laoghaire marina is the perfect setting for some new model debuts from Jeanneau, Lagoon and Zodiac," Salmon says. "We will announce the dates as the restrictions are lifted closer to the time and look forward to getting our clients on the water this season," he said.
James Kirwan of BJ Marine in Greystones Harbour County Wicklow predicts that "2021 will be another year where boating is one of the safest things you can do, and the market reflects that"
James Kirwan of BJ Marine
Responding to the news of Boot's April cancellation, the Irish Beneteau agent says "While disappointing for the industry it is not unexpected, and it is the right thing to do. Our planning for 2021 started last Spring, ordering new models to ensure we had a supply of the most popular boats, power and sail, for our clients for this season"
Kirwan adds "Many of the boats that people would have travelled to the show to see, we can show in Ireland. We will showcase these as best we can within the guidelines as they evolve".
German organisers said today that in 2022, boot Düsseldorf will return to the "known concept" and will accompany watersports enthusiasts into a new season.
