Prohens opens this year’s Palma International Boat Show with record attendance

The president highlighted the economic impact of the fair, which last year amounted to 20.1 million euros,
emphasising the average spend per tourist in the nautical sector

In total, the fair has 304 exhibitors who will be presenting the latest innovations in the nautical sector from 30 April to 3 May

The Palma International Boat Show kicked off today with the highest number of participating companies in
its history, thanks to the expansion of the new area located at the Club de Mar. In total, the fair has 304
exhibitors who will present the latest innovations in the nautical sector from 30 April to 3 May.

This morning, the president of the Balearic Islands, Margalida Prohens, inaugurated the fair, located at the
Moll Vell exhibition centre in Palma. Also in attendance were the Minister of Business, Employment and
Energy, Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro, and the Minister of the Sea and Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, among other authorities.

The event is organised by the Balearic Islands Regional Development Agency (ADRBalears) of the Regional
Ministry of Business, Employment and Energy and by BYBA (Balearic Yacht Brokers Association).

The big news this year is the Superyacht New Build Hub, the new exhibition area located at the Club de Mar, designed for the participation of large boats built by unique shipyards (one-offswhich manufacture to order, without serial models. This first year, the area has a dozen sailboats over 40 metres in length. It also has an exhibition on land, with eleven exhibitors, including shipyards, service companies and equipment for this category of luxury yachts (maintenance and repair companies, naval engineering, naval design, etc.).

The two exhibition areas – Moll Vell and Club de Mar – are connected by shuttle boats, which link the two
areas in around five minutes. Visitors to the Palma International Boat Show will be able to visit both areas
with the same ticket, making a visit to the show much more attractive.

In addition to the new area, the show has the now traditional Moll Vell site, which once again becomes the
benchmark for the industry, as it is the venue for global boat and product launches.

The Palma International Boat Show, which opens the nautical season, will showcase around 250 boats at sea, in addition to those on display on land. In total, the figure is around 600 boats. The Palma International Boat Show includes the Palma Superyacht Village, an area specially dedicated to yachts over 24 metres, available for sale or charter.). This section of the show is organised by BYBA (Balearic Yachting Brokerage Association).

Economic impact

The nautical sector is considered strategic for the Balearic Islands’ economy. According to data from the Balearic Marine Cluster, the Balearic nautical sector currently has 879 companies dedicated exclusively to recreational boating, generating a turnover of 1.106 billion euros. The sector is also responsible for 5,145
jobs.

It should be noted that the last edition of the Palma International Boat Show had an economic impact of
£17.6 million, according to a study by the Directorate General of Economy and Statistics, which also pointed
out that the boat show improves tourism in a low season month, promotes seasonality and increases the
flow of national and international tourists, boosting income for hotels, restaurants, transport and shops.

The president highlighted the value of nautical tourists, as they spend on average three times more than
conventional tourists