The Gyeonggi International Boat Show Opens at KINTEX on the 3rd of Next Month

Gyeonggi International Boat Show Promotional Poster

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi-do's 'International Boat Show' will open on the 3rd of next month.

Gyeonggi-do announced on the 21st that, in cooperation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, it will hold the '2023 Gyeonggi International Boat Show' simultaneously with the Korea Fishing Expo from the 3rd to the 5th of next month at KINTEX (Exhibition Hall 1) in Goyang City and the Aramarina area in Gimpo City.

Now in its 16th year, the Gyeonggi International Boat Show is the largest comprehensive marine leisure industry exhibition in Korea, where various domestic and international products such as leisure vessels including yachts and boats, equipment, and supplies can be experienced across different sectors.

Since 2016, the province has been jointly hosting the exhibition with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to provide opportunities for industrial market expansion and to offer information and experience opportunities to the marine leisure demand base in the metropolitan area.

Last year's event, resumed after three years due to COVID-19, recorded high response and success with about 55,000 visitors despite social distancing measures. Encouraged by this, the province has significantly expanded this year's event scale and broadened the exhibition scope to include fishing and camping goods.

Accordingly, the exhibition space has been prepared at 32,157㎡, 1.5 times larger than last year. In the indoor exhibition hall, visitors can see about 150 leisure vessels such as sailing yachts, rubber boats, and surfboards, as well as equipment and supplies including engines, accessories, and vehicle towing devices, along with popular outdoor products linked to marine leisure tourism such as caravans and camping cars. Additionally, participants can access company and product information in advance through the online exhibition hall.

This year, the province is especially operating a special pavilion for advanced technology and eco-friendliness. Large shipbuilders such as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and Samsung Heavy Industries are participating to present the possibilities and vision of integrating autonomous navigation technology?currently under research and international standardization mainly for commercial vessels?into leisure vessels. Test vessels will also be moved to the venue for exhibition. Domestic small and medium enterprises challenging the eco-friendly leisure vessel market with products like electric engines and batteries will showcase their products to domestic and international industry officials and the public.

Face-to-face consultations with overseas buyers, which were suspended due to COVID-19, will also resume. Consultations will be conducted both through pre-application and coordination and online video meetings. Overseas companies from the UK, Australia, Singapore, and others will visit the exhibition hall directly to explore the domestic leisure equipment industry and discuss purchases and contracts.

Open lectures for visitors and beginners interested in leisure vessels will be held. At the open studio inside the exhibition hall, expert and influencer lectures on professional knowledge and know-how such as 'Leisure Vessel Safe Navigation Rules' and 'Boat Trailer Towing Techniques' will be conducted over three days. At Aramarina in Gimpo City, safety education programs such as 'Outboard Engine Maintenance Practice' will be offered through prior reservation and lottery.

Kim Chung-beom, Director of the Agricultural, Fisheries and Life Sciences Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, said, "Marine leisure activities provide healing to the public and residents even during the COVID-19 situation," and urged, "Please show great interest in the Gyeonggi International Boat Show, a representative marine leisure exhibition full of future opportunities."