The Hindu Business Line : Boat show unveils wide range of products

THE three-day India International Boat Show 2005 (IIBS) began here on Friday, showcasing various products of the entire marine and boating industry from India and abroad.

Participation of international firms is higher this year, as evident from the presence of 22 foreign exhibitors in a new leisure boat market such as India.

The involvement of one of the world's leading trade bodies in this sector - the British Marine Federation, the apex trade association for the leisure boats and super yachts industry in UK - also adds value to the event.

The show is focusing on aqua tourism and water sports, boating equipment and accessories, leisure boating, defence boating, sports boating, ports and shipyards, and resorts and floatels. For the first time, country boats have been included in the exhibits.

At the inaugural function, the State Tourism Minister, Mr K.C. Venugopal, said that IIBS has catalysed the development of tourism in the State in a big way.

It has provided an impetus to beach and backwater tourism and has given a big boost to the water sports industry as well as brought in more aqua tourism inclined holiday-makers into the State.

IIBS is one of the initiatives of the Tourism Department to aggressively promote God's Own Country the world over, he said.

Mr Venugopal added that the timely and proactive Government initiatives had also contributed much to the growth of IIBS and to the development of a unique boating culture in India.

This includes the proposed 60-berth marina in Kochi with facilities for mooring, maintenance, and recreation in the land reclaimed from the Cochin Port Trust.

The State Government is also planning to develop the waterways all over the State for water sports and other aqua tourism activities. For this, the Government had set up a task force for "Smart Waterways and Tourism".

Mr S.C.S. Bangara, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, said that IIBS was the only such show in South Asia and it was a matter of pride that the harbour town has become an important location in marine and aqua tourism field.

Mr B. Suman, Director of Kerala Tourism, said that the profile of buyers has increased this year's show as the registration touched 500. The number is expected to go up as the show progresses. There has also been a marked increase in the quality of the participants, he said, adding that Kerala is ideally located to give a jump-start to the boating industry.

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