Mallorca, the world’s nautical capital as host of the ICOMIA and IFBSO congresses

A large delegation of authorities, along with the top figures of the global nautical industry, inaugurated on Tuesday, May 27th, the annual congresses jointly held this week in Mallorca by the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO).

From last Sunday, May 25th, until next Thursday, May 29th, Mallorca, more specifically, the Balearic capital, has become the epicenter of the global nautical industry, hosting representatives from all major nautical associations and the most influential and prestigious international boat shows.

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The welcome and reception event for the congresses coincided with the mid-point of the gathering and was attended by officials including the Director of the Balearic Port Authority, Toni Ginard; the Minister of Business, Employment and Energy, Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro; the Director General of Industry and Industrial Estates, Alfons Gómez; Palma’s Deputy Mayor for Mobility, Antonio Deudero; and the Director of ADR Balears, Silvia Delgado. They all showed their support for the congress alongside Darren Vaux, President of ICOMIA, and Niels Klarenbeek, President of IFBSO, as well as the hundred guests participating in the congress activities on the island.

“Hosting these congresses means a great deal to us—it is both a source of pride and a responsibility, and an opportunity to reaffirm the central role of nautical activities in our Islands, where the sea is not only an economic driver but a structural part of who we are. The sea represents tradition, landscape, and culture,” said Toni Ginard, Director of the Balearic Port Authority, during the opening ceremony at Port Centre, the institution's headquarters.

Following him, the Minister of Business, Employment and Energy, Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro, emphasized that “nautical activities are one of the main pillars of our Islands' future. We are blessed with kilometers of stunning coastline, excellent ports, yacht clubs, and marinas. Our nautical industry generates significant wealth and employment, and its quality is internationally recognized. For this reason, today it stands as a global hub for the marine industry,” he highlighted.

Palma’s Deputy Mayor for Mobility, Antoni Deudero, added: “It is a great honor for our city to host the top leaders, experts, and professionals from the global nautical industry, who are seeing firsthand the technical excellence of our facilities, services, and nautical companies—as well as the unique sailing experiences offered by this spectacular area of the Mediterranean. Palma is proud to be the global nautical capital this week, just as it is each year during our boat show, the Palma International Boat Show (PIBS).”

In the same vein, Darren Vaux, President of ICOMIA, noted that “Palma and Mallorca are a huge source of inspiration for the entire nautical industry, thanks to their stunning coasts and landscapes, their incredible nautical infrastructure, ports, and marinas, and the deep connection between the people and the sea.”

Finally, Niels Klarenbeek, President of IFBSO, highlighted “the Palma International Boat Show as a success story” and emphasized “the boost to the recreational boating industry that takes place in Mallorca, connecting people with nature and the sea in a sustainable way.”

This is a historic event, as it is the first time the Balearic capital hosts this major gathering of truly international scope. It brings together around one hundred guests, including leaders from the most significant nautical industries worldwide, such as New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Australia, Turkey, and the United States, as well as representatives from most European countries including France, Italy, and Germany, and presidents and directors of prominent boat shows such as those in Düsseldorf, Cannes, Miami, and Barcelona. Over these days, they will discuss the future and challenges of the sector.

The event, organized by the Spanish Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Business, Employment and Energy through the Balearic Islands Regional Development Agency (ADR Balears), aims to showcase the strength of the Balearic nautical industrial network to representatives from markets on all five continents. It also seeks to consolidate Palma’s position as a strategic global nautical hub and foster connections with influential figures from the world's leading nautical markets.

The program includes technical sessions, working committees, networking activities, professional visits, and social events, all set in the privileged environment of the Mediterranean. Participants are visiting key nautical facilities in Mallorca, such as Port Adriano, Puerto Portals, Alcudiamar, Astilleros de Mallorca, STP Shipyard Palma, Club de Mar, and the Port of Palma.

In addition to the ICOMIA and IFBSO general assemblies, the agenda also features technical meetings, collaborative workshops, and sessions on sustainability, market intelligence, marketing, innovation and sales, and the Spanish nautical market, as well as social events that will conclude with a grand gala dinner on Thursday, bringing a distinguished close to a congress that positions Palma at the heart of the global nautical industry.