2016 – The Recovery of Nautical Market in Mediterranean Area

Nautical market. The CNA’s (Institute for Public Research) research have revealed some interesting data related to the boating industry market . In fact, in Europe boaters are over 48 million, in addition to non-EU nautical tourists. Between the open sea and inland waters, the offer is equal to 1.75 million of boat places.

After stagnation, the first signs of recovery.

In recent years, despite the promising numbers referred to above, the market of boat places has undergone a strong stagnation. We have fortunately seen the first signs of recovery in 2015. In fact, fixed places have grown by an average of 7.7% and the transits have increased by 3.3% compared to 2014. (60.4% of the motorboats and 34.1% of the sailing boats) Generally, an increase of tourist port system market has been reported. Indeed, in the Mediterranean there are:

Construction of new ports
The increase in boat places (with 70% of transits in the Tyrrhenian area)

What is due this acceleration?

Optimal climatic conditions on summer
Recovery of secondhand boats

Market incentives owing to economic government maneuvers (e.g. Italian Government’s stability law – Application of VAT reduced to 10% for “Marina Resort”)

A critical point: the polarization of the users.

However, the problems are not shortage. One of the major criticality is the polarization of the users.

In recent years we have witnessed to:

increase of megayachts owners (users over 50)
increase of the owners who choose the Mediterranean as its “home port” (55% in 2014)

Nevertheless, the boats with more transits remain the those smaller than 12 meter and with a motor. (users from 18 to 50 years) In 2017 Will be there a radical change of direction? In fact, there are some positive signs.

Another critical point: the digital switchover.

However, another critical point is the digital switchover. The entry of a boat in a foreign port is subject to various restrictions, in each country. (e.g. registration activities etc) Which often entail the compilation of hard copy. The move to digital platforms would facilitate many of these “call of duties”. There are already some examples of online management of boat places reservations. In fact, over 35% of users use these tools. In recent months there was the launch of the “Project of Mediterranean’s marine digitalization“. This project is aimed at providing the Mediterranean harbours a digitization of trade system for incoming and outgoing ships.