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The majority of Spain’s most prominent marine industry companies continue to increase their impact globally as the marine leisure demand in Spain remains high.
A very positive domestic economic backdrop for the past six or seven years has resulted in a 2005 market growth of around 5 per cent across the board, with no sign of any slowdown for 2006.
Despite this heavy taxes and licensing laws are inhibiting the boating market. Boating is seen as a luxury activity and as such the tax burden on all boats 7.5m (25ft) or over sold in Spain is 28 per cent. This is the 16 per cent VAT rate plus a 12 per cent ‘registration fee’, an unpopular levy which has created a dead patch in the market just over the 7.5m hurdle.
An additional two per cent tax is levied on boats from non-EU countries, taking the total burden on non-EU imports over 7.5m to 30 per cent. Little is likely to change regarding the taxation of boats in Spain, as a similar stance is taken with the automotive industry, which is much more powerful in lobbying terms.
Furthermore boat licensing acts as a deterrent to go boating as a complicated four-stage driving-licence requirement, as well as user-licences for water-sports and fishing, tend to discourage all but the keenest boaters. Additionally, on-water policing backs up the bureaucracy.
Nevertheless, the 2005 Barcelona International Boat Show broke all records in terms of sheer size. The show occupied 100,000m2 of area, with 600 exhibiting companies and 229 large boats in-water. Having grown in statue over the past few years, it now ranks among the Mediterranean’s top three mainstream boating showcases, attracting 175,000 visitors.
The event is a must on big-boat builders’ show schedules as a result of the increasing number of Spanish buyers and the country’s popularity with the world’s rich, particularly ‘expat’ Europeans.
The Spanish market climate remains boating friendly, but the country still has too few suitable marinas and berthing-related facilities. Quite a few have been added in recent years and several more new marina projects are underway but, even though there are around 320 marinas with almost 107,000 berths, everyone is agreed that the industry needs a lot more.
To read Key Market Facts on Spain Click here
Summarised from the Spanish Business Report in IBI's December/January 2005/6
issue. The full report can be purchased from International Boat Industry
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1733 385 170. Fax: +44 (0) 1733 239 356 mailto:backissues@johndentonservices.com Copies are £15 each plus postage (£1 UK; £2 airmail Europe; £4 airmail elsewhere)
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