Australia will once again be on the global superyacht stage when the fourth annual Australian Superyacht Rendezvous is staged in the Whitsundays by Coral Sea Marina Resort from 15th to 18th October 2020.
Now recognised internationally as the southern hemisphere’s leading superyacht event, the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous – which has been staged on the Gold Coast at Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM) since its inception in 2017 – is now set to showcase the Great Barrier Reef as a superyacht destination.
This year’s host venue, Coral Sea Marina Resort, formerly known as Abell Point Marina, located on the beautiful tropical coast of Queensland, is the gateway to Airlie Beach, the Whitsunday Islands and the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef. Coral Sea Marina Resort boasts a 77 room boutique hotel and in 2019 became the first marina in Queensland and one of only nine in the world to attain Global Gold Anchor- Platinum Level accreditation for its customer service, innovation and first-class marina facilities.
Over four days, the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous will see international superyacht industry heavyweights, superyacht owners and buyers, tourism and industry professionals, plus politicians and media attend a series of invitation- only events showcasing Australia and the broader Asia and South Pacific region’s superyacht potential.
The prestigious annual Australian Superyacht Rendezvous showcases the Australian superyacht industry, its capabilities and economic potential along with Australia’s destination appeal, marking it as a uniquely intrepid travel destination for superyacht charters for luxury holiday-makers.
With traditional hotspots such as the Mediterranean and Caribbean now overcrowded and less pristine, the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous has sparked a strong vision for driving more high-end tourism down under, and more internationally flagged superyachts are setting their sights on Australia’s charter potential.
Each year, the event attracts a rollcall of international superyacht industry heavyweights, superyacht owners and buyers, captains, international brokers, tourism and industry professionals plus media along with around $250 million worth of Australia’s leading superyachts – those for charter or sale in excess of 24 metres in length.
This year, organisers hope to attract international superyachts to Australian Superyacht Rendezvous following game-changing legislation passed federally in December under the Special Recreational Vessels Bill 2019 will now allows special recreational vessels – such as superyachts – to apply for temporary licences under the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012. Previously, superyachts were unable to charter in Australian waters without being fully imported and taxed 10% of the value of the vessel presenting a major deterrent to international superyachts.
The carefully curated four-day program for the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous – Great Barrier Reef edition includes a full Whitsundays superyacht and island immersion for VIP
guests. Attending guests will be transported by participating superyachts, to a range of land and sea-based Whitsunday-exclusive experiences including a lunch on Whitehaven Beach, reef adventures, wildlife tours and more.
Paul Darrouzet, owner of new host venue Coral Sea Marina Resort who this year takes over the organising reins of the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous, says it is an exciting opportunity to showcase the superyacht cruising potential of the Great Barrier Reef. “Australia’s prominence on the global superyacht stage continues to gain momentum and the 2020 Great Barrier Reef edition of Australian Superyacht Rendezvous is our opportunity to showcase to the world our unrivalled and pristine cruising charter grounds for superyachts,” Mr Darrouzet said. “Globally, more superyachts are looking to migrate to the southern hemisphere to capitalise on fresh charter destinations like the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous represents an exceptional opportunity to tell the international superyacht world we are ready to welcome them,” he said.
“For the first time ever, the recent legislative change allows us to now throw out the welcome flag for international superyachts to attend the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous in October 2020. We are already aware the superyachts are looking to migrate south to capitalise on other southern hemisphere region opportunities via the Tokyo Olympics 2020 – Japan (24 July to 9 August) and the America’s Cup 2021 – Auckland, New Zealand (6 – 21 March).
Superyachts are an exciting tourism avenue for Australia thanks to environmental cleanliness and standards of these vessels, they offer low impact but high yield tourism.
According to statistics released from The Superyacht Group in March 2019, the global superyacht fleet has increased from 3906 craft in 2009 to 5646 in 2019 with around 150 new superyachts delivered annually across the globe while the 2018 Queensland Superyacht Strategy reports around 200 are based in Australia which equates to around 4% of the global superyacht fleet. According to Superyacht Australia, the overall superyacht industry in Australia is projected to grow to $3.34 billion by 2021. In 2016, the industry was estimated to be worth $1.965 billion.
Superyachts hoping to attend the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous – Great Barrier Reef edition are invited to register their interest by emailing info@australiansuperyachtrendezvous.com.au or (07) 4946 2400.
Further information is available at www.australiansuperyachtrendezvous.com.au
