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According to those who lead the marine lifestyle, a boat is a mobile holiday home. Like any abode, it can range in opulence from a shack to a luxury mansion, with all the accoutrements and accessories, trends and technical advances.
Next week, Victorians, interstate and international visitors will have the chance to touch and experience the best products that the marine industry can offer. From 30 January to 1 February the 2009 Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show, the sixth such event and the largest outdoor lifestyle event in Victoria this summer, will welcome more than 90,000 people to Docklands to explore and experience everything marine… and hopefully, buy into it.
Stretching from Docklands’ NewQuay right down to the festive piazza at Waterfront City, the event has something for everyone – with seafood, activities, travel/holiday information, marine accessories and more than $100m worth of boats on and off the water.
This is an ambitious effort to enthuse visitors from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, who have come in their droves in previous years – spending tens of millions of dollars.
With the global economic downturn moving into its second year, manufacturers and dealers are the first to admit the boating sector is doing it tough, but all are optimistic that, as one of the country’s most popular leisure pursuits, boating will prevail and consumer enthusiasm will strengthen.
Boating Industry Association (BIA) of Victoria general manager, Robert Coco, said strong exhibitor participation at the Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show was testament to the industry’s optimism.
“The growth of the event mirrors the state’s escalating enthusiasm for waterfront living and recreational boating,” Mr Coco said.
“The City of Melbourne, as a major sponsor, is investing heavily to promote the Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show as one of the major events on the city’s calendar.
“There’s little doubt the pipeline of waterfront and harbour developments in and around Port Phillip and Western Port will underwrite even stronger growth over the next decade.”
Boating is worth over $2 billion to the Victorian economy including net tourism spending. The state’s recreational boating industry has grown consistently over the past decade, despite recent difficult economic times and higher fuel costs. More than 167,000 boats were registered in Victoria to June 2008 and PWCs are growing at a rate of 10 per cent annually.
A 2007 report into the economic value of the industry to Victoria concluded it had had direct revenues of $1.4 billion and supported more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, with 3000 people employed in the marine sector.
In economic terms, the recreational boating industry is nearly double the size of the Victorian ski resorts, and generates three times the contribution of the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix. The industry is also a significant player in Victorian tourism with local, interstate and overseas visitors.
According to a boating industry report, the national industry is worth $13.3 billion in spending attributable to operations and boating makes a direct contribution of over $4 billion, with 74,000 jobs involved directly and indirectly.
The recreational boating industry is larger than the caravan industry. The Caravan, RV and Accommodation Industry of Australia, the peak caravan park association in Australia, estimates that the caravan park sector directly employs 17,000 people and generates over $1.7 billion annually.
In terms of tourism spending, the industry is about double the size of the back packing industry.
“In tough economic times, while people may cut back on international or interstate travel, owning a boat can be a circuit breaker for families who just need to get away from the everyday pressures,” Mr Coco said.
“It’s a healthy, outdoor pursuit and a great way for families and friends to enjoy time together.”
Further information: Boating Industry Association of Victoria – (03) 8696 5600 or visit: www.mibls.com.au
(21 January 2009)
Pictured: Victoria's recreational boating industry is nearly double
the size of the Victorian ski resorts and generates three times the
contribution of the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix. The industry is also a
significant player in Victorian tourism with local, interstate and
overseas visitors.
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