Asia Superyacht Conference highlights region's economic growth

Asia Superyacht Conference highlights region's economic growth

Photo (L-R): Andy Treadwell and Arthur Tay

The third 2011 Asia Superyacht Conference closed in Singapore on Friday at the ONE 15 Marina Club with an attendance of over 100 delegates. The two-day conference was opened on Thursday by Arthur Tay, chairman of the Superyacht Singapore Association. In his opening address, Tay explained that the retiming of the conference from its previous October timing to April was due to a strategic decision to align the conference event with the launch of the 1st Singapore Yacht Show, which opened on the last day of the conference.

Tay also highlighted the economic growth in the region with Singapore having the world's second fastest GDP growth in 2010 at 14 per cent, resulting in a surge of interest in larger yachts in the region. The follow-up keynote speech by Jean-Jacques Lavigne, executive director of the Superyacht Singapore Association, put some statistics into the scene set by the chairman with some key data;

• The numbers of superyachts based in the Asia region from India to China but excluding Australia and New Zealand is estimated at 216 yachts over 24m in length

• Powered superyachts are the most popular representing 90 per cent of the total with sailing yachts making up the balance

• 27 new superyachts entered the Asian market in 2010, 17 being new purchases and 10 yachts relocating into the region

• Breakdown of the market by size revealed 11 yachts over 60m, 50 between 40m-50m and 155 between 24m-40m

• Top new-build brands in Asia in 2010 for sales were Sunseeker, Azimut and local builder Horizon

• 85 per cent of the superyachts in Asia are based in Hong Kong, China, Thailand and Singapore

Andy Treadwell, CEO of Informa Sport and Leisure Group, says: "We are absolutely delighted with turnout and reaction to this third edition of the Asia Superyacht Conference. We naturally wanted to stage the event alongside the new Yacht Show that we are launching here, and the fact that there are so many participants with so much to say only six months after the last forum is testament to the excitement and genuine optimism for the future growth for the superyacht industry in Asia."

The Asia Superyacht Conference is managed by the Informa Yacht Group for the Superyacht Singapore Association. The 1st edition of the Singapore Yacht Show runs from April 8-10 from 15.00 to 22.00 hours at the ONE 15 Marina venue on Singapore's Sentosa Island.


Source: Superyacht Business, 13 April 2011