The Palma International Boat Show will consolidate its position as one of the leading sustainable nautical events, reducing its environmental impact while generating social and economic value for the Balearic Islands.

The Palma International Boat Show (PIBS), organised by the Regional Ministry of Business, Self-Employment and Energy and BYBA, will consolidate its position as one of the leading sustainable nautical events, with the aim of reducing environmental impact while generating social and economic value for the Balearic Islands.

The next edition of the boat show, to be held from 29 April to 2 May at the Moll Vell in Palma, will focus its efforts on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving waste management and raising awareness of sustainability among exhibitors and suppliers.

The organisers emphasise that commitment to sustainability is a necessary shift to bring the event into line with current environmental, social and economic challenges. To maintain and strengthen the PIBS’s leadership in the Mediterranean, sustainability must become a cross-cutting issue, with a positive impact on both the local community and the natural and marine environment.

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. This study was already carried out two years ago and now is considered an ideal time topara repeat it and analyse its evolution.

The first study certified that the PIBS generated an economic impact of €20.1 million and contributed to the deseasonalisation and improvement of tourism in a low season month. In this regard, the aim is to verify that, after two years, the show continues to be a key platform not only for the nautical sector, but also for Balearic society, promoting growth in sectors such as hospitality, catering and commerce. Last year, the updated study showed growth of 4.5%, reaching a total impact of €21 million.

Likewise, the Palma International Boat Show is launching a unified identity that integrates all areas and segments of the event under a single brand with the aim of strengthening the national and international profile of the event. This is a necessary step to adapt to the growth and increased visibility of the event. The boat show will thus have three distinct areas: Shipyard & Equipment, which exhibits yachts up to 35 metres, shipyards, distributors and service providers; Superyacht Village, which presents yachts over 24 metres for sale or rent, with access to industry professionals; Superyacht New Build Hub, which will exhibit sailing mega yachts over 35 metres, with shipyards, naval architects and design studios. The latter area will be in Marina Port de Mallorca, while the rest will be in Moll Vell.

The last edition of the Palma International Boat Show featured 304 participating companies, more than 600 boats on display and over 30,000 visitors. It is worth highlighting the role of PIBS as an agent for promoting and revitalising the nautical sector in the Balearic Islands, which is considered strategic for the archipelago’s economy. In fact, the fair has been the gateway for numerous international firms that have decided to establish themselves in the islands after participating as exhibitors, while also promoting the internationalisation and growth of local nautical companies. According to data from the Balearic Marine Cluster, the nautical sector has some 880 companies dedicated exclusively to recreational boating, with a turnover of €1.106 billion and more than 5,000 jobs.