Greek Leisure Boat Market Sees Robust Demand

Photo © Maria Theofanopoulou

Greece’s yachting market has gained ground over the 2014-2018 period, demonstrating the robust demand for recreational boating, according to a study released by research services firm ICAP.

More specifically, yacht rentals increased over the 2014-2018 period with over 80 percent of the demand coming from incoming tourists holidaying in Greece.

Revenues generated from professional leisure boats are estimated at having increased by 4.4 percent in 2018 against 2017.

Photo © Maria Theofanopoulou

At the same time, the market size (in value) of Greece’s professional yachting sector grew at an average annual rate of 3.4 percent in 2014-2018, according to Konstantinos Paleologos, senior Research Consultant ICAP, who also supervised the study.

According to shipping ministry data, there are currently 6,000 professional yachts active and licensed in Greece, 65 percent of these are sailing boats and 35 percent motor boats.

In 2018, yacht rentals accounted for 63 percent of revenues generated and motor boat rentals for 37 percent.

The study, which examined 17 selected ratios and the balance sheets of 18 Greece-based yachting companies for 2013-2017, found that total sales increased by approximately 26 percent in 2017 compared to 2013, with net profit improving overall in 2017 compared to 2016.