The Nauticsud, which has reached the milestone of half a century of editions, proves to be a resource and opportunity for the city of Naples and for the entire South. Attendance and sales data are stable, matching those of 2023, but with a growth in the quality of the offer displayed, the audience interested in purchasing and related to the sales of the boats made in the show. Clear evidence of the exhibition's value is the stay of the queen boat of the Riva shipyard, the Rivale 56, in the waters of Mergellina for another 10 days at the Branchizio pier, for the definition of some contracts started at the fair.
«The balance is more than positive, and not only for the attendance data of visitors equal to last year, but for the quality of the public that visited the salon - says Gennaro Amato, president of Afina, the organizing company of the exhibition -. But what surprises is the interest in buying, even if linked to mooring guarantee pacts, despite everyone knows that buying a boat means facing several difficulties, especially in Naples». Afina's alarm about the shortage of moorings is a deterrent, in fact, for the many Neapolitans who would like to become shipowners, less so, for the audience from central and northern Italy that was seen at the fair.
Milanese, Venetians, Tuscans and even foreigners from Spain, Croatia and even Switzerland, have found an answer to their needs. A participation, therefore, that demonstrates the value of the Salon for the supply chain, but also for the entire city territory which, in 9 days of exhibition, recorded presences in hotels, restaurants and sale of services. A boost that has not escaped the companies present at the fair that appreciated Afina's organizational effort so much as to request availability of spaces for 2025. The balance of Nauticsud was enriched by the contents of the General States of Pleasure Boating, which saw the participation of the mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, the president of the Campania Region, Vincenzo De Luca and the president of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Stefano Bonaccini. But above all the presence of the Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies, Nello Musumeci, of the Ministry of Tourism, with Minister Daniela Santanchè and the one with the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, conducted by Adolfo Urso.
Ports for pleasure boating and a proposal for a boating license, starting from 25 horses, were some of the important topics discussed, but also the Blue Economy, protected marine areas and sustainability have found constructive and productive comparisons. «The appointment of the General States of Boating, shared with the Presidency of the Council, and with the premier Giorgia Meloni, have turned the spotlight on four key issues for the future of the sector and the world leadership of the export and productivity of Italian pleasure boating - confirms Gennaro Amato - The proposals on safety, infrastructure, sustainability of the sea and use of the AMPs, have found consensus among the Ministers of the Government and this will allow us to proceed in the programs of our association that aims to resolve the uncertainties and the problems of the sector, such as moorings, but at the same time to promote safety at sea».
«Our legislative proposal on the boating license, starting from 25 horses compared to the current regulation that starts from 40 hp upwards, will serve to guarantee safety at sea for both shipowners and bathers, teaching the basic rules of driving at sea to people who approach, thanks to charters and rentals, for the first time to the conduct of boats. Afina is already working on the theme of the "license of civility and safety at sea", as defined by President Gennaro Amato, thanks to an agreement with the honorable Gimmi Cangiano, of the parliamentary transport commission with delegation to the sea. A bill, written by the lawyers of the Italian Nautical Supply Chain Association and some contacted jurists, will soon be on the table of the parliamentary commission to be able to start the process of the hoped future law for safety at sea.