2023 November December Marina World

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IWMC 2023: IN THE FIELD Jacek Sopotnicki Expansion plans in a buoyant market A highlight of any ICOMIA World Marinas Conference is the field trip opportunity to explore marinas in the host country, and IWMC 2023 delivered three of the Algarve’s finest facilities on a day blessed with blue sky, warm sunshine and the gentlest of breezes. Isolete Correia, president of APPR, the Portuguese Association of Ports and Marinas, and CEO of Vilamoura Marina, set the scene on Day 1 of the conference by presenting the conclusions of a survey on the revenues, strengths and challenges of Portuguese marinas. Portugal has around 12,000 berths, a third of which are in the Algarve, and occupancy rates are around 90%. The value of revenues for marinas and recreational ports was an estimated €60 million for 2022, a growth of 19% compared with 2021. From the beginning of this year until 31st July, the total revenue continued to grow above 10% leading to expectations that revenue will exceed €70 million at the end of 2023. Visitors are primarily from Portugal, France, the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and Spain. Between 2019 and 2022, the annual average turnover of recreational and sports boat builders in Portugal was around €137 million, a 47% increase on 2018. This data shows there is a clear sign of growth for the recreational marine industry in the country. Vilamoura Marina There are plenty of signs of this prosperity at Vilamoura Marina, the host venue for IWMC and the flagship marina for Portugal. A pioneering, multiaward winning facility, Vilamoura Marina remains the largest in the country with 825 berths and ability to accommodate vessels up to 60m (197ft) in length. Surrounded by bustling shops, restaurants, bars, cafés and hotels that give it high destination appeal, it’s a prestigious port of call with comprehensive but unobtrusive security and full concierge services. An on-site Above & right: Pioneering, multiaward winning Vilamoura Marina was the starting point for the field trip on Day 2 of the conference. Carlos Muriongo www.marinaworld.com – November/December 2023 35