2017 Award to the “Oldest Partner of the club”: Náutica Martín

This year, Náutica Martín was awarded the Oldest Partner of the Club. Xisco Llabrés is a lifelong businessman, a historical person of the sector; and with good reason. He has been more than forty years working in Cala d'Or to give his customers the best possible service. He loves his work and he is also compromised with this association, from which he has been a member since 1998.

How do you value this recognition?

In fact, very positively. At first, I doubted if I had to accept it, because I don't like to receive awards if it's for doing my job properly. But I understand that it is also important for the association. In this sense, I want to mention that Juan Rosselló was the “culprit” to make me initially join to the association.

Which were your professional beginnings in yachting?

They were in Cala d'Or. I was around 18 years old when I started a business with another partner. I ended up keeping the company, and finally, I had to trespass it. This is why nowadays it is still Náutica Martín. It is called Martín for my father. He, then, had a taxi and a rent a car companies, all with the name of Martín. I've been almost 45 years working professionally in yachting.

How was the business when you started it in Cala d'Or?

It was not the same as now. We started it when the port of Cala d'Or had just been built, and tourism started to have an important volume. In the beginning, we started with accessories and basic objects, and now, we sell Yamaha and other inflatable boats. The customers that we had before, most of them were foreigners and tourists, we also had Spanish. Since then, the area has grown. Another of the services that we offered was safekeeping of boats. Before, many boats were sold, but the customers had problems in winter when they wanted to keep them, and we offered this facility. When the mechanic that we had, retired; I decided that I preferred to simplify, and now I only sell.

2017 Award to the “Entity that has collaborated most with the yacht sector” Conselleria de Treball, Comerç i indústria

The Conselleria de Treball, Comerç i indústria of the Government of the Balearic Islands, has received an award for being the Entitiy that has collaborated most with the yacht sector during the past year. The organization, managed by the counselor Negueruela, has been one of our best allies when making important improvements for the sector, boosting quality vocational training of our future professionals; and collaborating with the companies, so that the Palma Boat Show becomes more relevant at an international scale.

1- This year, the Conselleria that you are running, receives the award to the Entity that has most collaborated with the yacht sector. How do you value this recognition?

We value it positively, because it is a recognition to the work that the team of the Conselleria does, together with the IDI (Innovation Institutue). It has been a lot of work with the sector. We are aware that the nautical industry is very important for our Community; both for the creation of jobs and for its volume of business.

This award encourages us to continue the same way, strengthening and deepening the collaboration with the sector, continue the dialogue with the associations and nautical companies, listening their needs and develop inititatives together, to favor the promotion of the yacht industry. All this, can be done by organizing the Palma Boat Show, the future Plan for Industry. Or we can also improve human capital through training, so that productivity and competitiveness of nautical companies progress; and, at the same time, the economic model of the Balearic improves and diversifies.

2.- Our companies have the highest boat enrolment dates of all the State, and the data of charter improve year by year. What policies are being carried away (or will be carried away) from the Conselleria to consolidate this growth and potentiate it at the same time?

In the Govern, coordinately, we collaborate with nautical associations to develop initiatives to promote the development of the sector, with overseas activities to make the companies known, and attract investment in the territory, as well as potentiate training and the appeal of the Community as a touristic destination.

2017 Award to the “Most Outstanding Trajectory”: Nautipaints

The Award to the Most Oustanding Professional Trajectory, this year was given to Nautipaints, for its clear focus on internationalization. Toni Salom, son of nautical entrepreneurs, has achieved with a lot of effort, constance, and creativity, that Nautipaints becomes a synonym of excellence at an international level.

What does this award represent to you and to this company?

For me, obviously, it is an honor to receive the recognition from all my workmates. To see that all my effort has been compensated, motivates me to keep working. This means that I am doing a good work. We always have our doubts at a certain point: if we are doing everything correctly or taking the best decision; and this recognition, confirms it. It is very satisfying for our company, we are a team. Without them, I could not have obtained this recognition. It is shared, and for all of us. And, of course, it helps us continue fighting, so that everyday we can improve and satisfy our customers. This is the target and the motto of NAUTIPAINTS.

According to your experience ¿How has the yacht business changed since 1991?

From my point of view, the yacht sector from 1991 and now, have nothing to do. The companies and their human equipment have specialized a lot. The market has grown enormously. For instance: the volume of companies; but also the size of boats. In 1991, a boat of 24 meters was a mega yacht, and nowadays it is a very common length. But the biggest change has been the importance given to the nautical industry as an industrial network, because before it wasn't recognized; both for the creation of jobs and for its volume of business.

Elections 2017

In accordance with the provisions of the statutes of the Association, the board of directors of AENB has called for the elections for the renewal of all the charges that make up the board. The day of the vote will be on the 16st of February 2017, coinciding with the Annual General Meeting.

The election process will be directed by the electoral council consisting of the President, the Vice- President and the Secretary. These charges will be represented by Mr. Andy Halcón/ RIVIERA TRADE SL, Mrs. Patricia Bullock/ NETWORK MARINE CONSULTANTS and Mrs. Tina Campins / NOVA NAUTICA SL

We would like to point out the following deadlines on the electoral calendar:

1º) On the 23th and 24th of January from 9:00 hrs. to 13:00 hrs., the candidacies of the interested members are received. The requirements laid down in the electoral regulations must be met, referring to the presentation of documents and the number of members. The candidacies are handed in at C/Gremi de Passamaners, 8 nave 12, Edificio Dahlberg S.A in Palma de Mallorca.

2º) The presented candidacies will be examined by the electoral council on the 25th of February, leaving a period of 48 hours for correction of possible errors.

3º) On the 6th of February the valid candidacies will be published, followed by a 48-hour period to lodge an appeal. Once the possible appeals are resolved, the definite candidacies will be proclaimed on the 9th of February.

4º) In the case of only one candidacy being presented, the electoral process will be concluded and ratified at the Annual General Meeting.

5º) In the case of several candidacies being presented, the Electoral Campaign will begin until the 15th of February.

6º) The presential voting will take place on the 16st of February, during the Annual General Meeting. Votes sent by mail to C/GremiPassamaners, 8 nave 12, Edificio Dahlberg S.A, 07009 Palma de Mallorca, and received by 13:00 hours on that day will be accepted.

For further information you can email Patricia Bullock at p.bullock@networkmarineconsultants.com

Single elected candidacy

Letter from the president - November 2016

In the Barcelona Boat Show, great novelties and news for the sector have been announced. In this sense, we have to outstand that the 5th Nautical Congress will be celebrated next March in Palma. This fact is a way to recognize the weight that the Balearic nautical has at a national level. Some days ago, the Gaceta Náutica announced the winners of the Timón 2016 award. This award is an excellent initiative, and AENIB will participate in it, because they are part of the jury. We also have to stand out that the next 30th of November, the Extraordinary General Meeting of our association will be celebrated. That is why we beg you to take time off your busy schedule and attend to it. Moreover, during those days, the first edition of the Nautical Charter Course is being celebrated in Palma, and we have participated in its organization. Besides, from AENIB, we keep working regarding nautical vocational studies, together with the SOIB and JOVENT. 

The Barcelona Boat Show always brings us great expectation, because plenty of novelties are announced. Those news are not only about new products and services, they are also about changes that affect the yacht sector and the next actions that the ANEN will take. In this sense, it was confirmed that the 5th Nautical Congress will be celebrated in Palma next March. This is not a trival issue, because it is the biggest national congress specialized in nautical. From our association we would like to congratulate ANEN for taking that decision, and we also want to value the leadership that our islands have in the national market. As expected, as more progresses are made, we will keep you informed. Regarding the Boat Show, we have to highlight its huge success, because plenty of companies and professionals attended and participated in the event. And a lot of the companies from the Balearic Islands were present. The ones we were there, can say that the activity has increased with respect to previous years. We would also like to point out the impulse that was given to the campaing #embarcate, that it was created to promote recreational boats in our country, and to all the workshops and conferences organized by ANEN. 

In these days, the 1st Course of Nautical Charter is being celebrated in Palma, and although it is still very soon to make an assesment, we can say that we are very satisfied with the level of participation. This reply from our students, plus the true interest for the subjects that are being done, makes us think that the call has been very successful. We have to remember that in the organization of this classroom course, the IME (which will issue an official certification to confirm the participation in this course), ANEN, AEGY and the AENIB have participated. 

Letter from the president - October 2016

Although the high season still has not finished, many of us need to be strong and pay attention to our customers and attend the different boat shows that will be celebrated in the next months. Like the one in Monaco, that finished not long ago. And according to the Balearic companies that participated, it had an excellent rating. Tere will also be another boat show in Barcelona, that will be celebrated in less than two weeks. On the other hand, in our island, the yacht sector awakes again eternal debates like the posidonia. From our part, in AENIB, we continue focused on vocational studies and professional qualifications for the workers of the sector. 

A few days ago, an editorial from one of the newspapers with largest circulation in Mallorca, pointed out that the general director of Natural Spaces and Biodiversity had been ceased from her position. It was because she was inactive when chasing indiscriminate anchoring in posidonia meadows. We do not know if it is an exaggeration of the newspaper, or if it is one of the reasons to cease her. If it was the last case, we do not know where is this data taken from, because the posidonia anchorings are an exception in our sector. It is unfair that people judge one collective for the mistakes of a few. And if any political and simplistic decision would be taken to legislate against anchoring in general, they would be destroying years of work and effort. Not only from the own administration, but also for thousands of people that fight every day to keep recreational yachting to the highest possible level. 

Letter from the president - August 2016

The yacht sector is working at full capacity this summer in our islands. In order to realize about this fact, we only have to see any of our beautiful coves and beaches and the great number of boats anchoring there. Not in vain, the Balearic Islands are still at the head of the national market when referring to the number of registrations. Those, have grown more than a 9% with respect to the first semester in 2015. These good numbers are helping to boost the turnover of our islands' nautical industry. While our companies work at full capacity to provide service to their customers, they are also starting to attend to large boat shows: like the one in Barcelona, or the METS. 

From the 24th until the 28th of October, an interesting course about nautical charter will be celebrated in Palma. It is organized by the IME (Spanish Maritime Institute), and the AENIB is going to collaborate actively. During those days, 16 professionals that belong to the sector, have a recognized prestige and an excellent professional experience at their backs, will offer first quality and updated training about all the necessary aspects to take into account, to work in this sector. In this sense, the agenda contains sections dedicated to the current market situation in Spain and Europe; the business strategy and its particularities, the legal framework in the nautical charter, the aspects regarding the exploitation of boats; and of course, the crucial topic about insurances and accidents. From AENIB we encourage all our associates to attend the course. So that, apart from obtaining an official certificate issued by the IME, it will be an excellent opportunity to be in contact with professionals and entrepreneurs of different sectors related to yachting. In the section of News, you can find the complete program of the event. 

Letter from the president - July 2016

International promotion, quality training and adequacy to the regulations of the sector's reality. For many years, these have been some of the most important complaints that our association has fought for, and little by little, our hard work is bearing its fruits. Thanks to the understanding between our sector and the public administrations in the last years, we're doing plenty of important improvements for the yacht sector in the Balearic Islands and Spain, working together with ANEN. 

Soon, the new Balearic decree of nautical charter will enter into force. It is a project in which we have also invested a huge amount of effort and resources to provide this sector with appropriate regulations to its reality and needs. In this project, the ANEN has helped us considerably, and we have achieved the regulation of this business completely in one single legal text, because in the previous regulations there were different legal texts. In this same newsletter, you will find a link to the news to the ANEN web. There, you will find an article written by Miguel Ángel Serra, who gives a thoroughly detail of the changes that this new legislation introduces. To sum up, it is kept the possibility to rent vessels and recreational registered boats that do not belong to the EU or are signatories of the Agreement regarding the European Economic Space in the same terms than the ones established in the previous regulation. Moreover, the Balearics register of lessors, boats and recreational boats is created. This register is public, autonomic has an administrative nature. In it, the companies that have made the responsible statement and the boats and declared vessels, will be documented. This register is aimed to control the illegal charter that happens mainly in the sector of small boats. 

Letter from the president - June 2016

During the last month, the association has focused on nautical vocational studies. It is an extremely important project for our companies and for the same future of our sector. We have had different meetings, as well as significant advances that will be said in this letter. Here, we will also comment on the pollution topic that the Emaya emissaries distributed in the whole island dump everyday to the sea. This problem affects us all seriously, but especially to those who live from the sea. 

Nautical Vocational Studies are an important subject strategy for our sector; and, for this reason, they are also significant for our association. As you may know, we've been several years working at an autonomous and national level with the support of the ANEN, and we are trying to achieve two main goals: the possibility that our joungsters can access a quality training that makes them capable of working repairing and maintaining boats. On the other hand, we are also trying that our workers can validate their professional experience with formal qualification. From AENIB we believe that all the resources we are investing in this project will be useful to pontentiate the excellence of our sector, improve even more the reputation of our islands as a destiny, and also help the new generations to find employment possibilities in our sector. 

Letter from the President - May 2016

I would like to start this letter thanking the organization of the Palma Boat Show because, as the president of the AENIB, I have been granted the Marcial Sánchez Bercáiztegui award. As I said at the awards ceremony, this prize is also a recognition to the task that the association has done the last thirty years, struggling for the yatch sector in the Balearics. I would also like to express gratitude for  everyone that has collaborated in the execution of the Boat Show, as well as to all the professionals and companies that have participated. 

More professional, more technical, more useful and more popular than ever. This way we could summarize the Palma Boat Show of this year. It is a shame that the weather wasn't in our favor, but there is nothing we can do against this fact. In any case, these days of the Boat Show have been the clear example of the results that can be achieved if the public and private sector collaborate together. We have built a solid project with the Boat Show, it is a relevance showcase to demonstrate the professonality and quality of the products and services that our companies offer. The Show had more than 200 authorized journalists, and it has succeeded in making many people see the reality of our sector. Yachting in our comnunity is almost accessible to anyone that wants to enjoy it, and this fact has been clearly reflected in the Palma Boat Show. Here, we have been able to see the last novelties of semirigid and small boats, as well as the most complex superyachts through an excellent offer of good navigation clubs and a great variety of water sports. Regarding the rest, I have to say that it is still soon to start valuing in depth the results of the Boat Show, although many of you have made your good sensations accessible to the people. I hope that in the next months all the contacts you have made, transform in jobs and orders, because that is what it is about. As I said before, I should congratulate the organization of the Boat Show because they have done an excellent job. 

Letter from the president - September 2015

As we are entering the final stages of the high season, the timing is about right to start thinking about the following season. We find initiatives like the Balearic Yacht Destination very positive and welcome. It is necessary to boost the recreational yachting on our islands as an alternative to golf or beach tourism. For that reason we will continue working  to extend the matriculation tax exemption on non-commercial yachts (currently 8 m), in order to be able to compete in equal conditions with our neighboring countries. During the month of August an old problem of illegal charters has received special media interest. AENIB has given several interviews and participated in various discussions over this problematic issue.

Generally this season has been very positive for the nautical sector, but still not quite the same as during the years before the crisis. An indication of the turning tide is the large number of superyachts that have been spotted navigating in our waters. It is very important to promote the Balearic Islands as a nautical destination, it will be a guaranteed investment for our economy. The profile of the nautical visitor is exactly what is needed to deseasonalize the tourism – a tourist with high purchasing power who wish to enjoy the gastronomy, the entertainment and the local culture. During the next Monaco Yacht Show, one of the most influential shows in the world, our islands will be highlighted thanks to the Balearic Yacht Destination. The companies Marina Ibiza, Astilleros de Mallorca, STP Shipyard Palma and Port Adriano will promote Mallorca and Ibiza as nautical destinations, both from a cruising point of view as well as service and refit destinations. Of course we would have liked to see also Menorca and Formentera being represented, but even so we believe it is a great initiative and hope it will serve to increase the awareness and the prestige of our islands. At AENIB we encourage our local government to pay attention, and to continue working to improve in this respect towards the next season.

Balearic Yacht Destination promotes Mallorca & Ibiza

Four of the major nautical companies in the Balearic Islands: Marina Ibiza, Astilleros de Mallorca, STP Shipyard Palma and Port Adriano present the project Balearic Yacht Destination, an initiative to promote the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza as nautical destinations both from the cruising point of views as well as an excellent location for yacht maintenance and refit.

The project will be presented at the Monaco yacht Show on Wednesday the 23rd of September, from 17.00-19.00 hrs on the stand QL10.

The Balearic Islands have become trendy. Mallorca and Ibiza emerge as two of the main tourist destinations of the world... but also among best places to live, according to the international media. Mallorca is the paradise island of tranquility converted into logistical centre of reference in the nautical sector. Ibiza is the fashionable destination of the celebrities of the world in search of the height of luxury.

Complete article: Gaceta Náutica.

II Symposium of Yacht Clubs in November

Real Club Nautico of Palma will host the II Symposium of Yacht Clubs on the 27-28th of November, organized by the Spanish Confederation of Yacht Clubs (CEACNA). Professionals related to port and yacht club management from all over the country are expected to participate.

The event, which is directed to yacht clubs, sports federations, associations and professionals of the sector, was officially presented during the 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE. Topics like communication strategies, sponsorship of sporting events or relationship between the national/regional administrations and the port entities and non-profit making sports marinas will be discussed.

José Jaubert, the president of CEACNA, referred to a congress celebrated four years ago, and explained that the main objective of this symposium is to analyse the evolution of conclusions drawn in that congress. "We want to decide on the direction we should follow when it comes to legislation, planning and both institutional and sporting development", assured Jaubert.

Complete article: Panorama Náutico.

The consumption skyrockets in the Balearics thanks to the luxury yachts

The luxury end of yachting has had a major impact on the yacht clubs and marinas of the Balearics, as the number of mooring reservations has grown considerably as a consequence of the elimination of the matriculation tax on charter yachts, benefitting specially the yachts above 30 m of length.

Direct effect of the arrival of the superyachts is the arrival of tourists with high purchasing power, generating an economical impact in the market and benefitting specially the restaurants, complimentary services, rent a car, boutiques, department stores and supermarkets in the port areas.

Complete article: Última Hora.

Letter from the president - July 2015

Even in the middle of the high season news that affect our sector keep popping up. Under the new leadership in the Town Hall the future of the Port of Molinar is once more insecure. In the case Bitácora, where all the accused admitted their guilt, the sentences were announced recently. Minimum sanctions for a group of people that caused great damage to the Balearic nautical sector by embezzling public funds destined for the promotion of the nautical sector. The regional and municipal governments are starting to take shape. From AENIB we plead them to appoint people who are knowledgeable about the nautical sector as heads of the departments that handle nautical issues.

The port of Molinar is going through one of the most critical moments in its long history. At AENIB we have always supported the reform project planned by the management of the club, since we believe it is the best way to guarantee the survival of the club. We understand the opposition to the project by some of the neighbors in the area (after all nobody wants to have a building site in front of their house), but by not carrying out the necessary reforms the port will be in serious danger. We believe that the solution to be adopted needs to be mutually agreed, benefit all parties involved (including the users and entrepreneurs) and allow this historical port to carry on with its activities in the best possible way without any delays.

The Bitàcora case has been concluded after the implicated parties have admitted their guilt. Minimal sentences for a group of people who used tax payers money destined to promote the nautical sector of our islands (in other words, our livelihood), to fill their own pockets. At AENIB we are satisfied that the process has come to a conclusion, and that those who so seriously damaged the image of the nautical sector have been publicly portrayed as corrupt, but we believe that the sentences given were insufficient.

 The regional and municipal governments are being formed at the moment. AENIB has never declared preference for one political option or another, and we will continue the same way. Most important for us is to be able to carry on with our activity in a most productive way possible both for ourselves as well as for the society we live in. We need leaders who have profound knowledge of the sector and who are aware of its strengths in order to take advantage of them; and its weaknesses in order to seek solutions. The efforts of Alberto Pons in charge of the Port Authority during the recent times should serve as an example for his successor: continuous contact with all parties involved, deep knowledge of the sector and its issues, plus a great capacity as a mediator. The nautical sector provides an outstanding opportunity for growth for the Balearic economy. Lets not allow bad management to hamper the growth of such a strategic sector. AENIB, as the biggest nautical association on the islands, is willing to participate in any working group to be created to promote the recreational yachting and nautical tourism as generators of economic activity and jobs on our islands.

Nautical sector requests speedier development of the Royal Decree of professional qualifications

After receiving the draft for a Royal Decree that will regulate the scope of the nautical qualifications required for certain paid professional services, in accordance with the recreational qualifications, the main organisations of the nautical sector will work together  to speed up the process towards the publication of the final normative.

The Spanish Nautical Trade Association (ANEN) with its regional member associations - Nautical Trade Association of the Balearic Islands, Nautical Trade Association of the Community of Valencia, Nautical and Recreational Association of the Canary Islands and Nautical Trade Association of Ibiza and Formentera; as well as the Large Yacht Association, the Spanish Federation of Ports and Marinas, the Recreational Yachtsmen´s Association, the Seamen´s Association of Catalonia, the Spanish Maritime Cluster and the Sea Council of CEOE have taken a joint stand regarding the necessity and benefits of the said Royal Decree for the nautical sector.

Complete article in Naucher Global.

Second sentence for corruption against the local ex-minister Buils (Case Bitácora)

So called Bitàcora case, related to the irregularities that took place in the department for Tourism of the local government, was concluded yesterday with minimal sentences. Sanctions were agreed between the public anticorruption prosecutor and the defense lawyers, after a negotiation that forced the accused to confess and to return the money. In exchange the prosecution requested only sentences that would not involve prison. In most cases the sanctions are economical. This case pivoted on Francesc Buils, the ex-minister for Tourism in the past Pacte coalition government, and accused of corruption for the second time.

Miguel Ángel Bonet, previously legal advisor to the Department of Tourism and on whom weigh another sentence for corruption, also admitted his guilt. He will pay a fine and spend six months in prison. The other five accused will also be sanctioned with fines. These are Maria Magdalena Estarellas, Silvia Riera, Cristina Sastre, Micaela Sastre and Baltasar Estarellas. They all reached an agreement with the prosecution, which had requested long prison sentences and return of the embezzled funds. The local government has recovered almost 40.000 euros. After this economical contribution, the prosecution accepted that confession and repair of the damages would be accepted as mitigating circumstances. The economic sanctions to be paid by the accused, on top of this compensation, are around 2.000 and 3.000 euros.

Complete article (Spanish).

Town Hall rejects the extension of the Port of Molinar

As no surprise, the posture of the new town council towards the extension of the Port of Molinar is firm: “The project is plagued with deficiencies. Incomprehensibly, it does not contemplate the extension of the Port of Palma, which should go hand in hand, and besides it supposes a negative modification of the Molinar neighborhood. For these reasons, and true to the policy of zero tolerance towards speculation within urban development, we are going to urge the Port Authority and the Ministry to paralyze, reject and withdraw the project”, stated Antoni Noguera, the Deputy Mayor and head of the department for City Model, Urban Planning and Decent Housing.

On his side, Àngels Fermoselle y Pedro Martinez, members of platform “Al Molinar, Port Petit”, whom he thanked for “being the main driving force behind the new form of governing where the politicians should be on the side of the society”. “Other forms of governing are out”, added Noguera, as if he was still doing election campaign.

A politician from the group “Més per Palma” indicated that a meeting with the Ministry has already been requested. In order to reach a maximum consensus, a working group will be created in which “the future of the Port of Molinar will be agreed upon by the society”.

Complete article (Spanish)

Changes in the professional nautical qualifications

To be able to convert your calling, what you like to do most and what makes sense to you, to your modus vivendi: that your passion becomes your profession. If we talk about the sea, this target is not so far off with the new legislation. Up until now, to be professionally dedicated to sailing required a PPER (certificate for professional skipper of a recreational vessel), although like in many walks of life, a rule does not necessarily protect against unqualified practices. 

For this reason, and also to get rid of the limitation that prevented many boat owners and captains to get paid for their services and get by economically, a legislative reform was carried out. We would like to draw your attention to one of the principal organizations and a voice of authority in this process. If you have a PPER, you are a captain or a boat owner and you would like to dedicate yourself to, for example, charters, please listen to the conversation we had with the president of the Spanish Nautical Trade Association (ANEN), Carlos Sanlorenzo.

Complete interview (Spanish)

Letter from the president: June 2015

In May we concluded the best Palma Boat Show for a long time (and we should know as we have participated one way or another since the very first show). It just shows how beneficial cooperation between the public administration and the private sector can be. The last few weeks have been very intensive for our companies from a marketing point of view: Palma Boat Show, Best of Yachting Puerto Adriano, Pollenca Race and Boat Show… An excellent way to start the high season and to attract the attention of potential clients. Recently also the elections for the Town Halls, the Island Council and the local Government took place. The results will change our political map quite radically, but at AENIB we will be  working hard to find consensus with the political forces in order keep up with the recovery for which we have fought so much over the years.

The recent elections will transform the political scene of our islands, and seemingly also the way things are done. Over the past months prior to the elections we had meetings with the representatives of the various political parties in order to present them our proposals how to support the nautical activity in the Balearic Islands: simplify the bureaucracy and to strive towards fiscal equality with our European neighbours. We don´t consider these measures ideological but rather rational, and they can only lead to an improvement of the economy of our community. We are not asking for subventions, handouts or special favours, like many other sectors do. We want to be able to work under the same conditions as our competiton, in order to make our islands a must for all sailing enthusiasts. If we invest in the nautical activity, everybody will gain. Nobody should forget the strategic nature of our sector and its capacity of growth.

The Palma Boat Show grows at every edition. More visitors, more tradespeople, more stands, more brands and more business. It is an attractive show for all parties, and also capable of paying for itself – a very important detail in these difficult times. For years the show was seen as a means of making money to finance other events, while there were no real efforts to make it more attractive and the protests of the sector fell on deaf ears. We all know the result: one year the show was cancelled because of lack of interest. But at AENIB we rolled up our sleeves, prepared a new project with the help of our associates and presented it to the Organizing Committee. This project was the backbone on which the current success of the show is built on. Cooperation between the public administration and the private companies has been essential for this success, and at AENIB we plead the new authorities to carry on along the proven track and not to repeat old mistakes. It is of utmost importance for our businesses to be able to count on a successful show that can be a stepping stone for them to attract important international customers.

The ports of Alcúdia, Pollenca, Adriano… during the last few weeks these ports have hosted fairs with high numbers of participants, which shows both confidence on the exhibitor side as well as interest by the public towards the new product on the market.  At AENIB we would like to congratulate the organizers and exhibitors alike, and encourage them to give continuity for these events. We would also like to challenge other municipalities to follow the example and organize their own nautical fairs. It will be a great help to the nautical companies, people will see that yachting is not just for the rich, and it will boost the retail and restaurant activity in the area.