Amsterdam, 11 March 2010 –
Watersports fans and companies have regained their confidence after a difficult year in the industry. The atmosphere at the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show 2010, which took place from 2 to 7 March in Amsterdam RAI, was positive from the moment the doors opened. It was clear that everyone was looking forward to the new season after the long cold winter. And the increased volume of direct sales at the exhibition showed that the interest in new boats and accessories has grown considerably. This was underlined by the impressive total of 51,849 visitors, a three percent rise compared to the previous edition. This result means that the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show is one of the very few watersports exhibitions in Europe that has managed to attract more visitors this season than last. The next HISWA will take place from 1 to 6 March 2011. Excellent start to the season Exhibitors were pleasantly surprised by the positive visitor numbers and interest, particularly in light of the economic crisis of the past year and its considerable impact on the watersports industry. Mr F. Dingerdis of Gill Benelux believes that HISWA 2010 reinforced once again the major role watersports plays within Dutch culture. Sloop builder Plevier Watersports described the success of this year’s HISWA compared to the last as phenomenal. “It seems that the panic has lifted. The worst is over and there is an upward trend,” said Mr Plevier. Kuysten Watersports labelled the exhibition as “the best show of the past five years.” Yachtbuilders Jachtwerf Heeg sold a considerable number of boats at the HISWA and was very satisfied with the high interest levels in the Dinghy & Day Sailers pavilion.
Enthusiastic newcomers Newcomer Ben Niestadt of Scheepsvakman applauded the quality of both the visitors and exhibitors: “I could not have hoped for a better place to launch our new website, with public, press and other exhibitors all being very accessible.” Yacht brokerage company Nautisch Kwartier, importer of Beneteau sailyachts, returned to the show after a five-year break and was positively surprised by both the exhibition and the visitor numbers. “We sold several yachts to new clients,” added Mr G. Sonsma of Nautisch Kwartier.
HISWA Motorboat of the Year 2010 and HISWA Innovation Award Winners On the opening day of the exhibition, the Greenline 33 Hybrid of importer Nova Yachting (Bruinisse, NL) was chosen as the HISWA Motorboat of the Year 2010. The jury commented that this hybrid motorboat is a daring concept with an excellent price/quality ratio. The HISWA Innovation Award was presented to Bomarine (Voorburg, NL) for its Rescue Laser Flare, an innovative device for search and rescue operations. According to the jury the flare is an important addition to the current emergency equipment portfolio.
Second-hand Boat Show from 16 to 18 April in the Bataviahaven, Lelystad Sales of new and second-hand vessels need a further boost. To stimulate the sale of used boats by watersports businesses and brokers, HISWA Multimedia, Amsterdam RAI and BoHil Media organise an exhibition at the Bataviahaven in Lelystad from 16 to 18 April 2010. Visitors will have free access to a wide range of boats in the water as well as trailer-transportable boats on the quays.
HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show 2010 The HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show 2010, organised by HISWA Multimedia, will be held from Tuesday 31 August to Sunday 5 September 2010 in Marina Seaport IJmuiden. The next edition of the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show in Amsterdam RAI is planned for Tuesday 1 to Sunday 6 March 2011.
Note for the editor/not for publication:
For more information, contact Sigrid van der Wel, T: +31 20 549 31 30, E: s.vd.wel@rai.nl. Digital press room/images: High resolution images can be downloaded via www.hiswarai.nl (Press/images).