Africa’s premier boating and luxury lifestyle event an overwhelming success
20 October 2019
Set against the backdrop of the iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town this weekend hosted yet another successful edition of the Cape Town International Boat Show.
The show brings together manufacturers and buyers of luxury boats, accessories and marine equipment to gather, share, and explore the many facets of the boating and related industries.
Says Joshua Low, Group Exhibitions Director of Messe Frankfurt SA and organiser of the show: “It was a fantastic weekend. Cape Town is a top tourism destination and never disappoints.”
The show was opened by Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities, and South Africa’s Deputy Transport Minister, Dikeledi Magadzi.
In his welcome address, Alderman Vos noted that Cape Town was the second largest producer of recreational catamarans in the world.
Cape Town’s boat building industry is known globally for its world-class craftsmanship, innovative and custom-made designs. The city exports 80% of products produced and attracts a positive trade balance of around US$73 million annually, or over R1 billion. Cape Town’s boatbuilding exports have grown by 20,54% annually year-on-year since 2014.
The sector directly employs over 5 120 artisans, carpenters, engineers and nautical architects. Cape Town is also the largest marine manufacturing centre within South Africa, generating over R2,3 billion in export revenue during 2018. (Source: Quantec, 2019).
“Cape Town has a steady stream of young qualified artisans entering the boat building industry – a key strategic sector to the city’s economy that attracts a positive trade balance and creates thousands of jobs,” added Alderman Vos.
