The Balearic Islands Government is boosting the region’s nautical sector by organising the Palma International Boat Show

A total of 310 companies from the nautical sector will gather from 29 April to 2 May at the Moll Vell in Palma for another edition of the Palma International Boat Show, the event which, after more than 40 years, has become an essential platform for consolidating the Balearic Islands as a strategic nautical hub in the Mediterranean. The Regional Minister for Business, the Self-Employed and Energy, Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro, presented the upcoming edition of the fair this morning and emphasised that ‘the event is a reflection of the sector in Spain, and more specifically in the Balearic Islands, focusing not so much on boat building, but on all subsequent processes, from repair and maintenance, distribution, marinas, services, and the entire ancillary industry organised around the nautical sector”. The Minister stated that “the fair and the sector have grown hand in hand, with a collaboration that has not only enabled the PIBS to become an event that grows sustainably each year—with 90% of participating companies returning—but has also facilitated the strengthening of a strategic business sector for the island’s economy”.

This year’s Palma International Boat Show will feature a comprehensive and highly diverse exhibition that has established it as an international benchmark. With 310 exhibitors and 600 boats, 275 of which are at sea, the fair boasts Europe’s largest display of large-length sailing yachts. It brings together, through direct representation, some of the most prestigious shipyards on the international scene, which are presenting their latest developments and innovations in Palma. It is worth noting that the exhibition is characterised by the innovation of the products on display, with a range that includes large yachts alongside small and medium-sized vessels, brokerage, technical services and some of the sector’s most cutting-edge offerings.

The Palma International Boat Show features three distinct areas. Two of these, Shipyards & Equipment and Superyacht Village, are located at the traditional Moll Vell venue, whilst the Superyacht New Build Hub will be at Marina Port de Mallorca. This new location has brought the exhibition a little closer to Moll Vell and doubled the number of boats on display, as it will feature twenty premium moorings and more than twenty exhibitors on land, consolidating its status as a key meeting point for the large sailing yacht new-build industry. As a new feature, the two venues are connected by sea and land at half-hourly intervals. Entry to the PIBS provides access to all areas.

The presentation was attended by the President of the Port Authority, Javier Sanz; the Director General of Industry and Industrial Estates, Alfons Gómez; the Manager of the Regional Development Agency of the Balearic Islands (ADRBalears), Silvia Delgado; the president of the Balearic Yacht Brokers Association (BYBA), Marta Iglesias; the president of the Balearic Marine Cluster, Guillermo García; the president of the Association of Nautical Companies of the Balearic Islands (AENIB), Jaume Vaquer; and the CEO of IPM Group, Patrick Reynés.

Guillermo García presented the latest edition of the Mediterranean Superyacht Forum, organised by the Balearic Marine Cluster with the sponsorship of ADRBalears and in collaboration with The Superyacht Group, which will take place on 28 and 29 April at the Palma Auditorium, kicking off the programme of the Palma International Boat Show, which also features a comprehensive programme of talks on sustainability and innovation, regatta presentations, amongst other activities.

With the aim of assessing the contribution of the boat show to the Balearic Islands, the organisers of the Palma International Boat Show will once again collect the necessary data so that the Directorate-General for Economy and Statistics can calculate its economic impact. The first study confirmed that the PIBS generated an economic impact of €20.1 million and contributed to the deseasonalisation and improvement of tourism during a month in the low season. Last year, the updated study showed a 4.5% increase, achieving a total impact of €21 million.