2nd National Spain Marinas Congress brings together more than 250 nautical industry professionals

More than 250 participants representing 64 marinas from across Spain, along with representatives from 90 public administrations, companies and organisations, gather in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The 2nd National Marinas de España Congress kicked off yesterday, Wednesday, November 4th, at the Hotel Cristina by Tigotan in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with the event fully booked and more than 250 participants in attendance. The gathering brings together representatives from 64 marinas, recreational ports and yacht clubs across Spain, as well as professionals and representatives from 90 public administrations, companies and organisations connected to the nautical industry.

The Congress, organised by Marinas de España, the Spanish Federation of Recreational and Tourist Marina Associations, is supported by the Department of Public Works, Housing and Mobility of the Canary Islands Government and Puertos Canarios. This second edition is held under the Honorary Presidency of His Majesty the King and under the theme "Strategic Infrastructure for Coastal Development". The Federation currently represents 151 marinas and recreational ports through nine regional associations.

The president of Marinas de España, Tomás Azcárate, highlighted that reaching full capacity "demonstrates the sector's enthusiasm for coming together and working collaboratively". He also noted that the aim of the event is to turn the work carried out by marinas into shared proposals and strengthen dialogue with public administrations.

The programme began with a technical session designed as a platform for collaboration and the exchange of experiences between marinas and Marinas de España's partner organisations. The opening session took place at 9:00 a.m. in the Gran Canaria Room of the Hotel Cristina by Tigotan. Participants then divided into five simultaneous working committees: Operations and Maintenance; Administration and Commercial Management; Sustainability and Innovation; Legal and Tax Affairs; and Strategy and Industry Development.

These working groups address issues related to operational management and facility maintenance, process digitalisation and customer service, sustainability and energy efficiency, concession frameworks and taxation, as well as the positioning and future development of the sector. The aim is to translate the conclusions of these technical discussions into shared proposals and actionable initiatives that can continue beyond the Congress.

The programme also includes B2B meetings between participating professionals and companies, as well as a plenary session during which the main conclusions of the five committees will be presented and discussed.

Today, Thursday, November 5th, the institutional session will take place, focusing on dialogue between the nautical industry and public administrations. The official opening will be led by Pablo Rodríguez, the Canary Islands Government's Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility.

The programme includes presentations and eight panel discussions addressing strategic issues for the future of the sector. These include concession tenders and tender specifications, marine and coastal strategies, concession extensions, environmental management and biodiversity, large yachts and superyachts, innovation and digitalisation, the European nautical market, and coordination, safety and emergency response.

The day will conclude with a plenary session featuring representatives from Marinas de España's regional associations and the presentation of the Canary Islands Pact for Marinas, a declaration of principles and commitments aimed at promoting marina facilities that are more sustainable, competitive and accessible to society. The document sets out ten principles and eighteen commitments covering areas such as administrative coordination, legal certainty, modernisation, sustainability, public-private partnerships, nautical tourism, accessibility, training, safety and innovation.

The 2nd National Marinas de España Congress is taking place on November 4th and 5th at the Hotel Cristina by Tigotan in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It provides a meeting point for sharing experiences, examining the challenges facing the sector and developing joint proposals to advance recreational boating and marina infrastructure.