Yachting industry suffers - Liverpool Boat Show cancelled

by Nancy Knudsen on 16 Feb 2011 There's nothing that shows the effect that difficult financial times have had on the yachting industry more than what happens at boat shows. Britain's Liverpool Boat Show, scheduled for April 2011, is the most recent casualty, with its cancellation just two months prior to its opening.

After the dismal figures of the London Boat Show in January, organisers of the event, Marine Industry Events (MIE) decided to call it off.

While the BBC reports that talks are under way to decide if an alternative event can be staged instead of the cancelled show, whatever eventuates will probably be nothing like the planned ten-day 400,000 visitor event that was planned.

Discussions between Liverpool council and local partners have started to see if another event can be arranged, but any plans will not involve MIE.

The Liverpool Boat Show was launched 18 months ago, billed as a major national event to be held around the city's historic Albert Dock.

The event was to include a huge display of boats in the main marina and surrounding docks as well as demonstrations of wake-boarding, power boat racing and water-skiing.

There would also have been family and cultural events on the waterfront, such as a sea shanty festival and street entertainment.

Rob Mackenzie, managing director of MIE, said from late November 2010 some exhibitors withdrew from the show after the economic outlook deteriorated rapidly.