September 25th, 2008

The participation in the HSBC Valletta Boat Show provided www.gosicilyproperties.com with the opportunity of proposing a wide range of interesting property opportunities in nearby Sicily, ranging from newly-completed one-bedroom apartments just 50 meters from the beach in the sought-after seaside locations near Marina di Ragusa, starting from €84,000, to farmhouses including some tumoli of land full of olive, carob and almond trees in the lush countryside near Ragusa and Giarratana starting from €60,000.

In 2007, the first edition of the Boat Show was very successful with over 8,000 visitors to the event. Feedback received from exhibitors indicates that at least 20 boats were sold during the show.

This year’s show has gathered 12,000 visitors with Flagstone Wharf hosting 50 exhibitors and 80 yachts which range in size from 35 feet up to 70 feet.

All of Malta’s major players were present at the show, including Beneteau, Bavaria, Grand Soleil, Fairline, Sunseeker, Azimut, X-Yachts, Dehler, Ferretti, Hanse, Sealine as well as many others.

Leading companies that service the yachting industry were also present, including HSBC, Bank of Valletta and Banque Popolaire Cote D’Azur as also some of Malta’s leading insurers.

The Valletta Boat Show was also officially supported by the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Yachting Services Trade Section of the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise and a number of official sponsors, namely HSBC Bank Malta, Cutrico Marine, Citadel Insurance and Belair Real Estate.

The yachting industry in Malta currently employs around 5,000 people and is growing. The turnover of this industry is estimated to be Euro 100 million, including all the services which are connected to this sector.

Once perceived only as a pastime of the rich, this is certainly no longer the case. Yachting is very big in Malta and, as the middle class increases in affluence, it is set to grow even further.

However, in order to assist this expansion, Malta desperately needs to increase both its marina space and its hard standing facilities. Having said that, the marina facilities available in Malta to the Malta-based boating community will shortly be complemented by the newly-constructed Yacht Marina in Marina di Ragusa, which is due to become fully operational by June 2009, and the Private Yacht Club of Marsa Arillah situated on the lungamare of Marina di Ragusa. In fact, a number of properties proposed by www.gosicilyproperties.com at the Valletta Boat Fair are only a short walking distance from these facilities. As a result, a number of visitors to the Valletta Boat Show www.gosicilyproperties.com stand have already expressed an interest in berthing their boat at the excellent facilities which the Yacht Marina in Marina di Ragusa will propose.