Shanghai Initiative to boost sailing in China

by Al Skinner on 3 Mar 2016 The Shanghai government recently announced an important new initiative. Perhaps the feeling is with a city GDP in excess of USD 1Tr that having built the city’s wealth it is time to build the city’s health. The city fathers have announced their aim to get 13 million of the city’s population actively involved in organized sport or fitness by 2025 – that’s just under 10 years and an ambitious target. Having said that, Shanghai has a habit of achieving its ambitions. And it isn’t just a ton of spots shoes that will be needed. A whole raft of hardware and software across all sports will have to be developed as time goes by and that included boating and the other outdoor sorts represented and promoted at the China (Shanghai) International Boat Show and its sisters.

Water-based activities provide some of the best outdoor sporting experiences, and starting people young often leads to a lifetime of sport. In recent news from the Shanghai Sports Bureau (SSB), it is clear it is not just the general public that are being ‘targeted’ in the new healthier lifestyle drive in Shanghai. Over the next five years SSB aims to introduce a staggering 200,000 school children to the sport of sailing. Thankfully the city is blessed with a number of sizeable lakes as this breaks down to an average of 40,000 children a year. This of course brings along with it, a healthy percentage of parents plus a high probability that many of these kids will want to go beyond just that introduction. If the water leisure industry in the Shanghai and Yangtze Delta region needed a shot in the arm, it looks like it might just have received it.

And there's more... A new government policy means that visitors to China from 51 major countries entering through Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing can now enjoy a visa free stay in China of up to six days. With the China (Shanghai) International Boat Show running over four days (7th to the 10th April 2016) this gives visitors ample to time to arrive, adjust, take in the show, a day of sightseeing (or quick factory visit) and then home. No need to write to the embassy or consulate in your locale and fill in forms. Just book flights and accommodation, and head to Shanghai to check out the largest Boat Show in Asia in the world’s fastest growing economy – with a similarly fast-growing leisure marine scene.