Airlie Beach hosts 8th annual Oceanic Whitsunday Boat & Leisure Show

by Jeni Bone on 2 Apr 2009 More than 7,500 visitors and sales around $9m are anticipated for this year's Oceanic Whitsunday Boat & Leisure Show, to be held on the 6th and 7th of June over the Queen’s birthday long weekend in the country's cruising heartland, Airlie Beach.

In its 8th year, this successful regional event is already shaping up to be a huge success with around 100 exhibitor bookings from leading marine brands. With fantastic weather on its side, the show is just 2 weeks after SCIBS and attracts visitors from Queensland and Southern Capitals, all eager to enjoy the spectacle in Australia's quintessential boating and sailing waters.

Known as 'a buyer's not browsers' show', sponsored by Oceanic Insurance Brokers and presented by the Rotary Club of Airlie Beach, the event brings Airlie Beach and Meridien Marinas Abel Point Marina alive with the colour and excitement of the third largest boat show in Queensland.

Event organisers are promising this year’s show will be the most ambitious yet with the latest products, big names in the marine industry, lots of interesting on-water and hard stand exhibits and entertainment for the whole family.

'We know times are tough. If boat show attendance in the United States is anything to go by, the Oceanic Whitsunday Boat and Leisure Show could expect a decrease in attendance this year unless we appeal to a broader market,' said Stephanie Hunt, business development manager for the Rotary Club of Airlie Beach Inc.

'We are really focusing on the links between boating and happy families and the sense of freedom from everyday pressure that boat owners feel as well as perfecting our format,' she said.

An extensive TV, radio, web and print advertising campaign has been carefully crafted to attract the thousands of boating, sailing and fishing enthusiasts in central and north Queensland as well as novices who want to share the sense of freedom boat owners enjoy.

Despite declines in attendances the world over, organisers and exhibitors are confident of a healthy turnout to this year's show and maintain the vital importance of boat shows in the marketing mix.

'Boat shows are more important than ever – there’s nothing like hands-on, face-to-face time at a boat show to really get people off the boat-buying fence. Boat shows are the strongest ‘call to action’ when it comes to communicating with potential buyers,' said Brett Thurley from R Marine Motor Yachts, an active exhibitor.








Oceanic Insurance Brokers has signed up for its 7th year of naming rights sponsorship. The first specialist marine brokerage in Queensland, starting in 1986, Oceanic has been the first choice for professional marine owners, operators and managers looking to protect their business assets. Oceanic specialises in handling risks as diverse as liability for commercial dive, marina operators, marine contractors and skippers. More at www.oceanicinsure.com.au

For more information or to book a booth or berth visit www.whitsundayboatshow.com or Tel: 0408 461 192.