It has long been recognized that COVID has changed the rules of the game not only on land but also at sea. Especially at sea. It is in order to settle all important issues that the World Marinas Conference (WMC) is held. This conference brings together the most important and influential people in the field of maritime transport and tourism. It is there that some of the most difficult and important issues are resolved. One of such questions at this conference is the fate of many old marinas and the prospects for their development.
WMC-2021 was opened by Chairman John Paul, along with ICOMIA President Sarah Engel. The conference was held in Dubai. One of the main topics is the development of new marinas and the maintenance of old ones. Interesting thoughts were voiced about the development of yachting on the rivers of Central Europe!
What was WMC about this year?
It should be said that in 2020 the conference had to be canceled due to the pandemic. In the same year, the organizers and participants made up for lost time - the action was large-scale.
Among the guests and participants were the leaders of the Maritime Leisure Association of the Middle East and North Africa (LMA MENA). In addition, there were people from the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA).
The conference was opened by ICOMIA President Sarah Engel and LMA Chairman John Paul. They had a busy speaking program (three days in a row) and nearly 40 speakers and experts. They provided a detailed report on the situation around yachting in the world.
Everyone at the conference was filled with enthusiasm and optimism, because in addition to the news about the recovery of the industry, this was the first meeting in a long time in reality, and not through Zoom.
Yachting in the Middle East
The UAE representatives were also positive. When the conference was just being organized, one thing was already clear. The UAE will become a new center for yachting tourism and leisure in the coming years.
Hamza Mustafa, CEO of P&O Marinas, also gave a detailed comment:
“We are hosting very important guests - WMC and LMA. Their presence here already speaks volumes. For many years we have created good conditions to attract such large players. "
To the surprise of many, Sarah Engel gave a detailed answer to the representatives of Germany. The question concerns yachting on the navigable rivers of Europe. Among the list of these rivers is the longest river in Europe - the Danube.
River Yachting and WMC Answers
Despite the fact that this issue did not seem to be on the agenda, Sarah Engel decided to share her thoughts on the matter.
From her answer, it became clear that river yachting is an equally important link in the entire sailing chain and the EU should be interested in its development.
“We know that there are many marinas and yacht clubs on the upper Danube (especially in Germany, Austria). These are beautiful places, but many of them should be ... Should be updated. Update unambiguously. The problem is that the Danube is a big river and it can generate income not only as a transport artery of Europe.
Yachting should develop not only in the EU. You have almost 3 thousand kilometers of river, why not expand the network of marinas to nearby countries? "
The first marina in the south of Ukraine
Whether it is coincidence or not, but literally a month before this conference in the city of Izmail, which is located on the Danube, it became known that they were going to build a marina.
The nearest marina for yachts is in Odessa. The marina in Izmail will be a good stop for yachtsmen from the upper Danube and for locals. You can see the project image below.
This will definitely improve the economic and tourist situation in the city. Izmail is, in principle, a tourist destination with a developed infrastructure and interesting places for tourists.
Before COVID-19, large passenger steamships with tourists from Europe regularly came to the city. The new marina, the project of which was made on paper back in 2019 and will be implemented in the near future, will help restore the tourist flow.
28.10.2021
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