The organisers of the Helsinki International Boat Show, Vene 16 Båt, have announced that the event attracted 77,000 visitors. The show was held at Messukeskus Helsinki from 12-21 February 2016.

Visitor numbers increased by 5% from last year and the exhibition space occupied by 411 exhibitors was the third largest in the event’s history. In addition, the Uusi Aalto Waterexpo area presented watersports and water-related activities in a larger water tank.

According to a visitor survey done by TNS Gallup, visitors came to the event to get new experiences (81%), to meet exhibitors and other professionals (75%), and to get more information to back up purchasing decisions (77%). The survey also shows that 91% were satisfied with the event and 68% stated that their visit will affect their purchasing decisions this year.

Motorboats were the most popular product and 12% of the visitors are planning to buy a new motorboat this year. TNS Gallup interviewed 300 people for the visitor survey.

”We sold all our six boats that we had on the stand. All in all our sales doubled when compared to last year,” says sales and marketing manager Calle Nyman at XO Boats.

Vene Båt selected the Jeanneau 349 as 'Boat of the Year'. The yacht was sold before the event and a deal for another was made. Aquastore represents this brand and its CEO Erkki Kaurinkoski expects more sales right after the event. “We have made so many offers that more deals are very likely to take place,” Kaurinkoski says.

Aquastore didn’t take a sailboat to the event last year, but the company hopes to bring two units to the show in 2017.

Sales manager Jussi Niinimäki from Venemaailma Oy, a company that represents Bavaria, said that the Bavaria 37 sailboat received several requests for quotation.

The Hong Kong department store exhibited for the first time, bringing boat gear and equipment to the event. Sales manager Samppa Illman comments: “We are glad we came. We got to tell visitors about our new products and received valuable feedback. Boat electronics and immersions suits were the most popular items on our stand. We made sales and got our message through to visitors.”

The next edition of the show, Vene 17 Båt, is schedule to take place from 10-19 February 2017 at Messukeskus Helsinki.

The event is organised by Messukeskus Helsinki and commissioned by the Finnish Marine Industries Federation Finnboat.

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