Letter from the president - May 2014

An outstanding Palma Boat Show finished last Sunday with a saldo of more visitors, more exhibitors and more potential buyers than last year, a success that we hope will be reflected in the volume of business in the coming months. Over the last weeks we have received also some other important news, for example the increase of year to year boat sales and the forecasted growth of nautical tourism in Spain.

In just two years Palma Boat Show has reached the potential to become one of the most important shows in the Mediterranean. This event, built on the foundations of the project presented by AENIB through the Organizing Committee last year, is capable of  attracting more visitors, exhibitors and potential buyers year after year. It is still early to evaluate the results in depth, but  the opinions you have passed to us so far indicate that the exhibitors have been able to make the most of these five days. We also  appreciate the extra effort the exhibitors did by programming additional activities and presentations that made the show more attractive and dynamic. 

Looking ahead towards the the next edition, we hope that the work continues to keep the show up to the expectations and in line with the importance of the Balearic Islands within the recreational nautical market. To reach this, it is important that the Organizing Committee and all the organizations that make part of it, will have the same prominence and the decision making power as last year. The new model of the show, capable of great things, was born out of collaboration between the public and the private sectors. This very same spirit will carry the Palma Boat Show to become one of the greatest in the Mediterranean.

The II Nautical Congress, organized by ANEN,  took place in the beginning of April. It was an event of great significance, in which we were pleased to participate together with many of our associates. During two intensive days the Spanish nautical business sector debated many for our future important issues, like the necessary fiscal and administrative reforms, the new nautical qualifications, the development of the nautical sector in other countries etc. The large number of participants in the Congress was an indicator of the importance of the event and shows also the concern of the nautical industry for the issues  it is affected by. On behalf of AENIB we would like to thank ANEN for organizing the event and congratulate for its media impact.

AENIB asks the VAT on nautical charter to be harmonized with the rest of Europe

In a meeting on the 8th of May with some members of the local government, leaders of the Popular Party in the Balearic Islands and the MEP Rosa Estarás, the Association of the Nautical Trade in the Balearic Islands (AENIB) requested an effort to be made to harmonize the VAT paid on nautical charter with the rest of our neighbours. The president of AENIB, Margarita Dahlberg, took advantage of the occasion to express gratitude towards the local government and the Popular Party for their commitment the recreational nautical sector in the Balearics. In continuation she asked Estarás to "continue working in Europe to defend the interests of all the residents of the Balearic Islands as she was doing during the previous term".

The president of the Balearic government, José Ramón Bauzá, emphasized his commitment to the sector, which he calls "strategic", and pointed out that "thanks to coordinated efforts between the administration and the businesses, we have become once again a reference point in the international nautical scene".

On the other hand, he reminded that "when I was still a candidate, one of the first requests of the sector was the elimination of the matriculation tax for charter yachts, and although at that point I didn´t have the power to do anything about it, I committed myself to try to get rid of this tax, which has now happened". It was a tax, he said, that "made us uncompetitive against other destinations like France or Italy".

Additionally, he expressed his disagreement with the "unpleasant surprise" caused by the central government´s announcement of the increase of the light house tax, something that "we were opposed from the word go, and have worked against in the local Ministry of Tourism".

More than 200 representatives of the business sector rallied CAEB and CEOE into the new era and paid homage to Josep Oliver

More than 200 representatives of the business sector rallied around the Confederation of Trade Associations of the Balearics (CAEB) and the Spanish Confederation of Trade Organizations (CEOE) into the new stage, and at the same time paid homage to Josep Oliver Mari, the until last month president of CAEB. The event was chaired by Carmen Planas, who received the congratulations of those present for leading the confederation into the new era, characterized by the slogan "Renovate, create and innovate". CAEB, and more specifically Carmen Planas, has the support of CEOE, represented at the event by the president, Joan Rosell, and by Narciso Casado, the Cabinet Director of the Presidency and Institutional Relations of CEOE. The business sector was also represented by the vice presidents of CAEB; Aurelio Vázquez, Eduardo López, Pau Belinfante, Francisco Martorell, Joan Bufí, y Joan Melis; by the treasurer Rafael Roig, and by the principal presidents of the business organizations of CAEB.

On behalf of the rest of the society, the president of the local Government, José Ramón Bauzá; the Delegate of the central Government Teresa Palmer, the President of the Parliament, Margalida Durán, the Mayor of Palma, Mateu Isern lead the procession of public institutions with plenty of senior officials and local government ministers, like the Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, Joaquin García: the Minister of Taxation and Budgets, José Vicente Marí; the Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Gabriel Company. Also assisted the secretary general of PSIB-PSOE, Francina Armengol, and the highest representatives of the biggest workers union, Manuel Pelarda, of UGT, and Katiana Vicens.

Flat rate of 50 € to use the ramps in the Balearics

The director general of the ports and airports, Antonio Deudero, presented at the 31st Palma Boat Show the new annual access card to the 15 launching ramps in the 13 ports managed by the Balearic Ports (Ports IB). Aimed at the owners of small craft which is not moored but transported on a trailer, this card has an annual cost of 50 € and allows an unlimited use of the launching ramps managed by Ports IB in the Balearic Islands.

According to the director general, "this card extends the nautical services to general use for the residents, so that everybody can enjoy activities at sea. It is an accessible, economical and reliable service".

With a reference to the destination of the income collected with the cards, Deudero assured that it will be used to cover the costs of the service, "to control the ramps in order maintain them in good condition".

In the presentation participated also the general manager of Ports IB, David Gómez, and the treasurer  of the Nautical Trade Association in the Balearic Islands (AENIB), Maritina  Campins, representing the private sector.

Those interested in obtaining the card, can download the application form on the website of Ports IB, www.portsib.es.

Article by Panorama Náutico.

A successful edition of the Palma International Boat Show draws to an end

The 31st edition of the Palma International Boat Show, which closes its gates today after 5 days of exhibition in the Moll Vell area of the Balearic capital, has been an all around success, both when it comes to the number of exhibitors and moorings, which have increased by 20 and 75% respectively compared to last year, as well as to the number and type of visitors, level of satisfaction by the exhibitors and business volume.

The show received around 32.000 visitors, increasing from last years figures, while the invited guests are still to be counted. The public holiday on the first of May was the busiest day, second busiest being the closing Sunday.

The director of the event, Chema Sans, assured that "the show has been more noticeable than ever in the city, but looking further than the figures, more importantly the visitor profile has been that of a yachting enthusiast, a potential buyer, while last year people came mainly to stroll around".

According to the information collected by the organization, this has resulted in increased business volume, not only when it comes to boats but also equipment and accessories. In fact, the complementary services benefited from the direct sales at the show, something that hasn´t happened for a long time.

On the other hand, more than 90% of the exhibitors are planning to return next year, in fact many of the larger companies have already reserved space. Out of those 90% more than half have requested more exhibition space, specially on the floating exhibition, which signifies a high level of satisfaction. 

Francisco Morente, president of the nautical association of Pimeef: "Events like this fair are necessary"

Morente is of the opinion that in times of economical crisis it is vital to organize events like the nautical fair of Santa Eulalia, because they "invigorate the different sectors", in this case one that is of vital importance to Ibiza - the recreational yachting. He also states that the nautical businesses make a great effort to participate in the Nautical Fair of Santa Eulalia, and invites the locals to come for a stroll to the port during the event.

What are the expectations regarding this new edition of the Nautical Fair of Santa Eulalia?

We hope that the weather cooperates during this 22nd edition, so that families feel tempted to have a nice out enjoying the fair and the wide range of activities that are available in the municipality to celebrate the festivities of the first Sunday of May. We´ll be more than satisfied when people approach the port to get to know the fair.

What can the visitor find at the fair?

Well, the first thrill for the visitor will be the new image of the port of Santa Eulária, which has been hosting this event since 22 years and has been recently completely renovated, thus upgrading the image of the whole municipality and giving more value to the client. When it comes to the exhibition, the latest models of boats, inflatables, jet skis, electronics and nautical equipment will be on show.

Are there any discounts in boat prices due to the event?

As every year, the exhibitors will have special offers for the visitors.

Are events like this viable in the financial straits we are living in?

It is not a question of viability. These events are necessary. In difficult times it more important than ever to organize events in order to put new energy into the different sectors of the economy.

The general secretary of ANEN tackles the future of the sector in the XV Symposium of Tourist Ports

"New era, new challenges" was the theme of the XV Symposium of Tourist Ports, which took place in the Marina de Denia last week.

The general secretary of ANEN, Carlos Sanlorenzo, participated in the event as a representative of the employers in the nautical sector with an address titled  "Tendencies in, and the future of the nautical sector". In his intervention, after a brief presentation of the current boat market figures,  Carlos Sanlorenzo explained what the priorities of ANEN are at the moment both in the legislative area - drive forward the reform of the nautical qualifications - as well as in fiscal terms, important so that the recreational yachting in Spain can be harmonized  with the tendencies in the international markets.

With reference to cooperation between ANEN and FEAPDT, specially when it comes to the question of abandoned vessels, the general secretary of ANEN emphasized the importance of this collaboration in order to reach the proposed goals and to cement the new outlook of the sector.