The Genoa International Boat Show is one of the world's premier boat shows, held annually in Genoa, Italy, typically during the month of October. The exhibition is organised by Fiera di Genova SpA and UCINA, Italy's professional association of the yachting industry, and takes place at Fieristico as well as parts of the old town and port of Genoa.
History
Owing the popularity of nautical tourism along the Italian Riviera, as well as Genoa's history as a city for the ship and yacht building industry, the 1st International Boat Show was opened by Senator De Gregorio, Undersecretary to the Treasury, on 27 January 1962. With 300,000 visitors that year, the Salone Nautico Internazionale was an instant success. With the 5th International Boat Show in 1966, the organisation was moved from the City of Genoa to the co-operation of Fiera di Genova SpA and UCINA. Over the years, the Boat show grew mainly by an increasing number of exhibitors and professional organisations attending the show, and with the 46th International Boat Show in 2006, the marina underwent one of its most substantial extensions. In 2009 the new 20.000 sqm Pavilion B - designed by French architectJean Nouvel - was opened. Since its inception, the shows were officially opened by Italian government ministers of Economy and Finance, Infrastructures and Transports respectively. Next to the boot Düsseldorftrade fair, the Salone Nautico is regarded as one of the world's largest boat shows.
Exhibition spaces
The exhibition area comprises both on land and in water shows, with 100,000 square meters of water basin surface and more than 200,000 square meters of pavilions and outdoor areas. In 2009, 1,450 exhibitors exhibited a total of over 2,400 sailing boats, luxury yachts, motor yachts, catamarans, sailboats, and maxi yachts. The spectrum of industries includes all types of vessels, ship components, accessories, motors and electronics as well as water sports equipment, yacht leasing and financing. The exhibition is accompanied by various seminars, lectures and discussion sessions with leading industry experts, government representatives and opinion leaders. Topics discussed include yacht brokerage, yacht charter, yacht transport and yacht delivery within the Mediterranean and worldwide.
