The Genoa International Boat Show was one of the few yachting showcases to take place this year due to the impact of Covid-19. In spite of the travel restrictions and safety measures in place across the world, the show was still granted the go-ahead.
Following the cancellation of the Monaco Yacht Show and Southampton Boat Show, the event was the only major European show given the green light this summer, plugging a large gap in the industry's calendar.
With strict health and safety measures in place, the event ended its six-day run on October 6 with 71,168 visitors having passed through the gates and 824 exhibitors from the yachting industry and beyond.
For the Genoa International Boat Show to go ahead, a number of health and safety protocols were introduced in compliance with the World Health Organisation and Italian Technical Scientific Committee, which included multiple entrances and "green routes" to manage the flow of visitors, thermo-scanners and automated turnstiles. The event is set over 200,000 square metres, 90% of which is outdoors, which was an important factor in the decision to allow the show to continue as planned.
In an official statement, show organisers I Salone Nautici said: “As the only boat show able to take place in Europe during the Covid-19 crisis, the event has become another shining symbol of Italy’s sense of social responsibility, determination, conviction and know-how in these complicated times."
Sara Massollo, general manager of Sunseeker Italy, said: “The Genoa International Boat Show this year symbolises the industry’s chance to recover, being the only Boat Show in 2020. It seemed right to take part and try to get back to normal, something we’ve been missing over the past few months."
The line up of boats included the first Benetti 40M Oasis Rebeca, one of the largest present at the show, as well as Sanlorenzo's SX88, the flagship of the Italian shipyard's crossover series.
Massimo Perotti, executive chairman of Sanlorenzo, added: "The show was well organised: we’ve seen a lot of visitors interested in purchasing a boat, meaning there was a high percentage of buyers this year, both Italian and from abroad. In total we sold five models, two from Bluegame and three from Sanlorenzo, to three Italians and two foreign buyers, a good mix."
The next major international yachting showcase on the calendar is the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show which opens its gates this week. Much like the Genoa Boat International Show, the event will employ a number of heightened safety measures including a contactless ticketing system, temperature checks upon entry, an hourly deep clean of all high touch-points, widened docks and directional arrows to encourage social distancing and sanitisation stations throughout the show.