New Queensland strategy major boost for Australian superyacht industry
by Lhamo Johnson, AIMEX 25 May 2018 04:32 PDT
25 May 2018
Panel Discussion - Day 1 © AIMEX
The announcement on the first day of the ASMEX 2018 Conference of the new five-year Queensland Superyacht Strategy is seen as a major boost for the Australian Superyacht industry.
"This is a really significant boost for the Australian Superyacht industry," Superyacht Australia Director, MaryAnne Edwards, said following the announcement of the new Queensland Strategy. "We hope to complete the work on the national Superyacht Strategy shortly and if we can just secure the charter arrangements for foreign-flag yachts soon, then the industry in Australia will really be in line for a very bright future".
The announcement of the new Queensland Superyacht Strategy served as a highly-positive opener to the first day of ASMEX 2018 - the Australian Superyacht, Marine Export and Commercial Marine Industry Conference entitled "Changing the Game down under – Australia has it all."
This essential annual in the Australian marine industry calendar, was held at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort on May 22-23, 2018. Its comprehensive program provides updates on the work of AIMEX- the Australian International Marine Export Group, Superyacht Australia and the Australian Commercial Marine Group(ACMG). Also, a new feature of ASMEX 2018, was the three Breakout Sessions looking at Superyachts, Export Performance and the Commercial Marine Sector.
Aligning with the introduction of the Queensland Superyacht Strategy are the increasing Federal and State Government links with Superyacht Australia and AIMEX. These were very much reflected in a number of sessions throughout the first day. In particular, the early session with the launch of the new Strategy; later discussion on the charter regulations and towards the end of the day, within the Superyacht Breakout Session were discussions around consistency of interpretation of regulations and the improved access for superyachts to the Great Barrier Reef.
With the Welcoming Address being made by the Honourable Steven Ciobo, MP, Minister of Trade, Tourism & Investment, the links with government were emphasised early in the Conference program. Further relevant mentions were made in the welcome messages to around 200 delegates from 10 or more countries, made by Richard Chapman, President of AIMEX; Barry Jenkins, Chair Superyacht Australia, and Tommy Erickson, Chair, ACMG.
ASMEX 2018 opened with the very positive news of the launch of the Queensland Superyacht Strategy which is geared to attract investment, expand infrastructure and create jobs. The strategy was launched by Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick.
The Strategy is a five-year 2018-23 initiative and the Minister also confirmed that Queensland will support the holding of the ASMEX Conference for the next three years. He commented that the conference was a vital part of positioning Queensland as a key superyacht hub in Asia Pacific by 2023 with 10% more of the global market.
"Queensland's climate, tourism assets and cruising grounds, world-class maintenance and refit facilities, proximity to Asia and the South Pacific and safe and stable environment mean we can take the lead in the superyacht industry in the region," Mr Dick said. "The Queensland Government is committed to realising the significant economic and employment potential of this growth sector, especially in regional Queensland."
'Superyacht activity in south east Queensland brought A$630 million into the state's economy and supported 4,500 jobs in 2016, and it is expected to expand to A$1.1 billion and nearly 8,000 jobs by 2021," the Minister added. 'In Cairns and the Whitsundays, the A$320 million and 2,660 jobs generated by superyacht activity in 2016 is expected to rise to A$580 million and 4,500 jobs by 2021."
The Australian strategy being finalised will provide a blueprint for the country's superyacht industry and will also run 2018-2023. Currently the Australian marine industry generates A$1.97bn to the country's GDP and 14,500 jobs.
In exciting news Tourism Australia and Superyacht Australia have linked up to promote what the country has to offer to the superyachts with specific emphasis on the Tourism Australia Signature Experiences programme.
Going forward Superyacht Australia has four clear strategies as follows:
- Consistent and Constructive alignment
- Co-ordinated and well-funded marketing, awareness and communications campaign
- Sufficient infrastructure to drive growth
- Collaboration and nationally co-ordinated value chain
For further Information contact Maryanne Edwards Director and Spokesman for Superyacht Australia.