Three Australian boat shows cancelled due to coronavirus

Three Australian boat shows – Sydney International Boat Show (30^th July – 3^rd August), Adelaide Boat Show (28^th – 30^th June) and Brisbane Boat Show (21^st – 23^rd August) – have now been cancelled, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The action follows earlier plans to just postpone them but, because of the further spread of Covid-19, the decision has been made to abandon all three events.

In a statement from the Australian Boating Industry Association (BIA), which organises the three shows, Darren Vaux, BIA president, commented, “The board and executive of the BIA is constantly monitoring developments related to Covid-19 in the public domain, in communication with government and in discussion with members. Last week, the BIA took the decision to hold the show dates for Sydney and Brisbane and set a contingency date for Adelaide in late September. This was based on the best available information at that time.

“The progress of the spread of the virus over the last seven days has seen the forecasts change and, based on the feedback from members and in the interests of certainty, the board has resolved to cancel the Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide boat shows for 2020.”

It indicated that exhibitors will be offered a refund of any deposits held by the BIA.

The statement continued, “This decision will enable the BIA resources to fully focus on member support at this challenging time. The BIA’s core purpose is to support and protect member prosperity and our current areas of focus continue to be:

• Keep Australia boating: We are communicating with both federal and state politicians and departments to make sure that our message regarding the importance of continuing to service, maintain and protect the boating fleet and marine estate from a life safety, environmental protection and user physical and mental health point of view gets through
• Deciphering the constant updates to stimulus and protection packages that are being proposed by state and federal governments so that we can communicate and assist members in this regard
• Highlighting the benefits of boating at this time and re-enforcing the importance of using the appropriate social isolation protocols when boating in all its forms
• Mobilising a digital campaign to remind people about the joys and freedoms of boating now and into the future to support ongoing boating activity and the future recovery

“We know that our membership is finding it very tough with this health crisis coming on the top of a difficult summer and we are applying all of our energy into limiting the restrictions on our industry while maximising the available government support. We need to come together, support each other, follow the government directives and look after the most vulnerable in our industry and our community.”

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) has so far been postponed with new dates still awaited at this time.

For more information, visit Sydney International Boat Show, Adelaide Boat Show and Brisbane Boat Show. Sign up to our newsletter to get the best of Yachting Pages delivered direct to your inbox every month.

Source: IBI