A twice-cancelled show
Finally scheduled for April 1, 2025, the new nautical event on the banks of the Seine will not take place this year. The French Nautical Industries Federation (FIN) believes that current market conditions will not ensure the success of this first edition.
This project, drawn up following in-depth consultation in the first half of 2023, was praised for its quality by all stakeholders.
" Ambitious, it met the needs identified 18 months earlier. Discussions were underway, both with government departments for administrative authorizations and with local partners to find the best economic balance".
However, according to Fabrice Lacoume, president of FIN's salon commission:
" Market trends in recent months, marked by external economic factors, have made the project more fragile. The recently launched pre-marketing phase has prevented us from moving ahead with its development with any serenity."
Jean-Paul Chapeleau, President of FIN, also declared:
" FIN's vocation is to support the French nautical industry. That's why the idea of maintaining a show in the Paris region was considered a priority. However, we also have a responsibility to manage risk, including for our federation, and to take contingencies into account. After in-depth discussions, it became clear that the context was no longer favorable. While this decision is regrettable, it is one we fully accept. This will not prevent us from exploring other solutions in the future."
The indoor salon concept struggles
The successor to the Paris Nautic, which has been held at the Porte de Versailles for several decades, is long overdue, and will find it increasingly difficult to fit into an already busy calendar. It remains to be seen whether the Nautic de Saint Malo in April 2025 will not suffer the same fate as its Parisian counterpart.
While the Grande Motte multihull boat show, the Grand Pavois and the Cannes Yachting Festival are events on the up, the same cannot be said for indoors, where the concept is struggling to survive.
Visit recent cancellation of Boatlife in Birmingham, confirms the sector's difficulties in exhibiting at trade shows whose business model no longer corresponds to our times.
