on 8 Sep 2020
The online boat show and expo is aimed at helping first-time boat buyers navigate the industry
Singapore-based boat advisory company Basco Boating has announced the launch of a two-day virtual Boat Buyer Expo.
The expo is aimed at first-time boat buyers and boaters who are new to Asia, and takes place from October 10-11. Participants, who can register for free at the event’s website, can also register for over 30 webinars on topics such as “how to charter a boat or a superyacht”, “how to build or buy a new boat without breaking the bank,” and “what resources you need to make the boating lifestyle a dream.”
The concurrent online Asia Online Boat Show runs from October 10-31, and will remain live until December 21, 2020, for further sales and inquiries. Basco expects around 10,000 ‘attendees’ during the three-week show.
“We are thrilled to be supporting and connecting the boating industry’s SMEs with the Online Boat Show marketplace and the Boat Buyer Expo,” says Basco Boating co-founder Dione Schick. “By bringing a regional approach to boat shows we believe this will provide economies of scale, reduce costs, and significantly ramp up exposure for these businesses. We’re delighted to be leading the charge on this for the benefit of the industry,”
Schick adds that it is challenging for many owners to sell a boat in Asia and that she hopes the event can provide an alternative to the traditional boat brokerage model.
The pandemic has curtailed almost all physical Asian boat shows this year, with brokers and buyers turning to online events to fill the gap. The annual Singapore Yacht Show, initially rescheduled from its original dates in March, was cancelled last week. The inaugural Hong Kong Yacht Show, slated for November 19-22, is now the only physical boat show set to take place in Asia this year.