Boat Show & Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 kicks off today

• 26 to 28 October at Galle Yacht Marina, Port of Galle

The Boat Show & Boating Festival Sri Lanka 2018 is organised by the Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute (BTI) and Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in association with the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, and Sri Lanka Ports Authority at Galle Yacht Marina, Port of Galle from 26–28 October.

The boat-building industry has been identified as a leading industry and an emerging export sector, and has also been identified as one of the key sectors in the National Export Strategy (NES) 2018–2022 for Sri Lanka.

The organisation of the Boat Show Sri Lanka, which commenced in 2008, is one of the main activities undertaken to promote the industry and recommended in the NES. The Show, organised once in two years, provides a forum for the industry to display and promote their products to potential clients, whilst creating investment opportunities in boat- and ship-building, training, marine infrastructure, and marine tourism. 

The 6th Edition of the Boat Show will be organised from 26–28 October, with a novel concept titled “Boat Show and Boating Festival 2018”. It will be the first ever boating festival held in Sri Lanka, organised to showcase the country’s capabilities in marine tourism, recreational boating, yachting, and boat0building, which is mainly focused on exports.

Although Sri Lanka has a long history in boat-building, the nation is currently not engaged in boating activities, and therefore, it is necessary to create interest amongst the local community. Building a strong local market will benefit to the country’s export market as well. Considering the above, this year’s Boat Show will focus on boating activities and nautical tourism.

This year, the show will be organised in the Galle Port. The mini-marina will be used to berth vessels to be displayed and for water activities, and the land area surrounding the marina for exhibiting boating-related products and services.

The inauguration ceremony of the Boat Show & Boating Festival will be held on 26 October at 3.00 pm. The Republic of Burundi First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo, and Republic of Burundi Transport, Public Works, Equipment and Territory Management Minister Jean Bosco Nutunzwenimana, will visit the Boat Show 2018 on the invitation of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and will grace the opening ceremony as the Guests of Honour.

A number of international buyers and visitors will be visiting the Boat Show from countries such as Maldives, Sweden, Italy, UAE, India, Poland, Belgium, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Mauritius.

International Conference on Nautical Tourism

Considering the importance of enhancing the international profile of Sri Lanka as a marine tourism destination and a quality boat manufacturing hub, and encouraging the boat manufacturing industry to adopt new technology and manufacturing techniques, EDB and BTI propose to organise an International Conference on Nautical Tourism on 27 October at 9.00 am – 1.00 pm, at the Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel in Galle, parallel to the Boat Show & Boating Festival 2018. It is expected that 100–150 participants from the industry will participate at the conference, including boat manufacturers, chartering companies, students of marine industry, and journalists.

Eminent international speakers are invited as the resource persons for the Conference, and the theme of the conference will be “Sri Lanka – a hub for the marine industry, challenges and opportunities for marine tourism and manufacturing.” 

The speakers will be:

nMike Derret, International Marina Expert, UK

nSandrine Devos, representative from European Boating Institute (EBI)

nMichal Bak, Secretary General, Polish Chamber of Marine Industry and Water Sports (POLBOAT)

The Boat Show & Boating Festival will certainly contribute towards creating the necessary international visibility for the boat-building industry in Sri Lanka.