GOA International Boat Show ‘09 : Starting this Year with a BANG !

7 January 2009 No Comment

With the flurry of boat shows all across Asia in this season, the Goa International Boat Show ‘09 deserves a special place on the boating calendar.

Goa – the Pearl of the Arabian Sea, and one of the world’s largest tourism hot-spots, is home to the ever-expanding Goa International Boat Show.

Held in the heart of Old Goa – Panjim, the Goa International Boat Show exhibits a wide range of products, services and brands that are present in India and also internationally. These cater to all sorts of clientele – privates, corporates and industrials and also to those who are over-awed by the possibilities of seeing the best boats in the world.

In ‘09, GIBS already boasts of an all time maximum number of participants, supporters and special invitees. With the yachting industry in India giving a fair fight to global recession, the number of brands on display at GIBS ‘09 include some of the finest from the yachting industry – the Italians, Americans, Mid-eastern and our loving neighbours China are all bound to Goa this month, between 16th to 18th January.

With the number of boats increasing in both numbers and also size, the GIBS, which is listed on the International Boat Show calendar, this year has given rise to an unbiased platform for some of the finest yacht management service providers to participate and display their livery. Most participants who were merely spectators in the show’s yester-years have succumbed to Goa’s charm of drawing in large multi-national brands and crowds, which saw the prequels being a big success.

Of course, no boat show is complete without its list of supporters, and to no one’s surprise, the Goa Boat Show finds loyal supporters in the Goa Government, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Indian National Shipowners’ Association, Board Sailing Association of India, Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry, various other ministries related to toursim, fishing and barge-owners.

Amongst the special invitees we have our very own Royal Bombay Yacht Club, Indian Ports Association, Shipyards Association of India and more.

With a vast network of waters around it and in it…Goa has seen application of boats in many forms for transport and pleasure. Definitely the largest market in India with respect to personal water-sports, Goa has active groups of jet-skiers, kite-surfers, surfers and more. With prominent industrial houses homed in Goa, their wealthy owners use yachts of all sizes within the creek and beaches area for their pleasure.

With one of the main ports of India, Marmugao harbours many international frieght-carriers and cruise-liners. Goa is the only place in India, where you can indulge in the comfort of casinos on the water, in its famous creek. The local fishing population is quickly changing to modern techniques to increase their catch and reduce pollution.

Houseboats, charters, and other floating pontoons have in a manner entitled Goa to wear the crown in terms of reaching out to all sorts of users of boats.

Bound to be a sell-out success, the number of relevant visitors expected over 3 days is more than 5000, which surely boosts confidence of participants, media and all involved.

For more on the Goa International Boat Show ‘09 as and when it happens…keeping surfing on GiiraYachts.com…