The cancellation of the 2020 Cannes Yachting Festival is a “huge disappointment for the entire nautical industry,” show organisers have said.
It comes it was reported that show organiser Reed Exhibitions was reaching out to exhibitors to inform them of the show’s cancellation. The Cannes Yachting Festival was due to take place between September 8-13.
In a detailed statement, Reed Exhibitions and show manager Sylvie Ernoult confirmed the cancellation, explaining that organisers had applied for special dispensation to hold the event following a national ban on events of more than 5,000 people. The dispensation was not granted.
“It is with our greatest regret and with some misunderstanding that we are therefore forced to announce the cancellation of the Yachting Festival 2020,” the statement said.
The statement went on to explain how show organisers had worked “for many months” to “create the conditions required to be able to open.”
“Among other measures, a rigorous health protocol had been drawn up, aiming to welcome all participants with peace of mind all while enabling them to enjoy a quality customer experience,” it said.
However on August 11, a previous announcement from the French government allowing trade shows to operate from September 1 was “suddenly reversed”. Organisers met with prefectural authorities on site but the expected exemption was not permitted.
Show manager Sylvie Ernoult described the decision as “a huge disappointment for the entire nautical industry”.
She thanked festival exhibitors, the city of Cannes and the wider Reed Exhibitions team for “working together relentlessly for months”.
She added that it was with “great surprised and incomprehension that we take note of the prefect’s decision”.