boot Düsseldorf 2024 saw 214,000 visitors from 120 countries, with an increase in trade visitors compared to 2023 – 21% compared to 18%.
The show also saw a greater number of international visitors, rising from 23.7% in 2023 to 34.3% in 2024.
Official figures show the majority of visitors were interested in sailing yachts – 42% – followed by powerboat fans – 38.2%. More than a quarter of the total visitors were interested in diving and almost 12% were interested in chartering a vessel.
Boating apparel and travel were also in high demand at the show with almost 26% of visitors interested in boat wear and almost 20% interested in nautical tourism.
A high percentage – 94% – of visitors were extremely positive about the show programme.
“We had many new contacts at our stands and were able to conclude numerous deals,” said exhibitor spokesperson and trade fair president Robert Marx. “The right visitors ensured very good sales figures in the boat sector as well as for motors/engines, boards, diving equipment and accessories. boot 2024 provided the perfect start to the season.”
CEO and President of Messe Düsseldorf, Wolfram Diener, said he was pleased with the positive outcome of the show.
“We have achieved a good result and can be more than satisfied in these challenging times,” he said.
“Customers and exhibitors have a unique platform for networking here. It’s great, we were once again able to underpin boot Düsseldorf’s leading position with an inspiring business atmosphere in the exhibition halls. I wish our exhibitors a good business year 2024.”
And many exhibitors said they had seen packed stands including Sea Ray boats with Hans Roeland saying ‘excellent business’ was carried out and many deals concluded.
Princess Yachts displayed eight boats at the show including the X95 making her show debut.
Being the first show of the year, boot is often a good barometer for how the market may perform for the rest of the year and we’ve certainly been encouraged by how busy we have been at the Princess stand and by the quality of the conversations we’ve been having,” said Simon Clare, executive director of marketing, Princess Yachts.
“Both the sales completed at the show and the number of conversations to continue later certainly back that up, so we are optimistic for the year ahead.”
And Patric Polch, MD of broker boote polch GmbH said the expertise of the customers was extremely high and the quality of the discussions first-class.
And he said the company had registered far more demand at boot 2024 than in the previous year.
boot Düsseldorf 2025 will take place from 18 to 26 January 2025.
