Sanctuary Cove Boat Show 2008

Queensland's marine industry is the largest in Australia and its largest showcase, the 20th Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, started yesterday with more than 50, 000 plus visitors expected over the four day show.

The 2008 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show runs from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 May and has 455 exhibitors, just one less than last year, with 400 boats on the water with a total of 5.32km of waterline length. Last year the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show attracted a record 53,000 visitors and if yesterday's perfect sunshine continues, then similar numbers are expected again this year.

Yesterday morning the show was official declared open by Queensland industry veteran Bill Barry-Cotter, who founded Riveria and subsequently Maritimo, both Gold Coast based luxury boat building operations and probably Australia's two largest marine exporters.

Queensland accounts for 80 per cent of Australia's recreational boat exports with an average growth rate in excess of nine per cent per annum over a 10-year period (1995-2005). Total exports of marine products in 2005-2006 were worth over $400 million including $190 million of recreational boats.

Queensland's marine industry currently employs around 11,000 people, accounting for a third of Australia's total marine-based workforce and contributed $2.6 billion to the State's economy in 2005-06.

Queensland Minister for Trade John Mickel said yesterday 'Trade Queensland has recently led trade missions to the Mumbai, Dubai and China International Boat Shows, and is well advanced for a trade mission to the Korea International Boat Show in June.

'A great contributor to the ongoing success of the Sanctuary Cove event is that it is held in the heart of the Southern Hemisphere's leading leisure and light commercial boat building region - the Gold Coast' Mr Mickel said.

By Bob Maxwell