More than 150 exhibitors, 200 boats, as many as 72 brands, 15 premieres – the spectacular second edition of the international nautical fair has been announced at Marina Baotić in Seget Donji, taking place from April 10 to 13.
The second edition of the Dalmatia Boat Show promises to be even more spectacular. More exhibitors and an increased number of boats are expected on land and at sea in the unique Marina Baotić in Seget Donji, which spans over 140,000 square meters and has been one of the most attractive nautical tourism destinations since 2011. At a time when the number of exhibitors is declining at similar fairs worldwide, this is great news for an international nautical fair in the heart of Dalmatia.
“Despite the downturn in the nautical industry, we have achieved an outstanding result in just our second year of organizing this fair. From April 10 to 13, the Dalmatia Boat Show will host 150 exhibitors, 200 boats on land and in the sea, 72 brands, and 15 boat premieres that will be unveiled to the world for the first time right here in Croatia. I am proud of my team because increasing the number of exhibitors by 25% in these challenging times for the nautical industry is no easy feat. With over 100,000 square meters of water area, Marina Baotić offers something that very few marinas in Croatia have – more than 40,000 square meters of dry dock with excellent infrastructure,” said Željko Baotić, owner of Marina Baotić and the initiator of the Dalmatia Boat Show, expressing his gratitude to the exhibitors, the Split-Dalmatia County, Seget Donji, the City of Trogir, the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, and numerous sponsors who have supported the new edition of this international nautical fair in Seget Donji.
Dalmatia Boat Show organizing team member Aleksandra Bujević highlighted that this year’s exhibitors are coming from Croatia, Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Serbia.
“Among the 15 premieres, I would especially highlight the presentation of the electric boat De Antonio E23. Once again this year, we are placing great importance on marine conservation and sustainable tourism. Additionally, our focus is on promoting Seget Donji, Dalmatia, and Croatia as top-tier nautical destinations. We have prepared a rich entertainment and educational program along with an excellent gastronomic offer,” said Aleksandra Bujević.
A Beautiful Promotion of Seget and Dalmatia
“The Split-Dalmatia County aims to connect all sectors of our society, whether in maritime affairs, transportation, culture, education, or events such as this international nautical fair. Through education and business opportunities – which is precisely what the Dalmatia Boat Show represents – our community can move forward. Split-Dalmatia County supports this event, which promotes nautical tourism and contributes to the development of our entire community,” emphasized Stipe Čogelja, Deputy Prefect of Split-Dalmatia County.
The importance of the Dalmatia Boat Show for Seget was also confirmed by the Mayor of this Dalmatian municipality, Ivo Sorić.
“I am glad that Seget is establishing itself as a center of nautical tourism through this fair. The Dalmatia Boat Show extends the season, contributes to positive economic growth, and increases revenue at the municipal level. Seget is among the top four or five destinations in the county in terms of accommodation capacity and the number of overnight stays. Events like this encourage us to continuously invest in and improve the town through numerous projects that we have initiated and that should be realized in the next mandate. I would like to thank Mr. Baotić and his team for this excellent idea, and I have no doubt that this project will develop into a long-standing tradition, to the satisfaction of all residents and visitors,” said Mayor Ivo Sorić.
Nautical Industry: A Key Sector for Split-Dalmatia County
President of the Chamber of Commerce – Split County Chamber, Joze Tomaš, stated that the Croatian Chamber of Commerce has been bringing together all stakeholders in nautical tourism for years, with a particular focus on collaboration with charter companies and marinas.
“Nautical charters contribute significantly to off-season tourism results and represent a valuable addition to Croatia’s tourism offering. Over the past decade, Croatia has positioned itself as a globally relevant nautical destination and the world’s leading charter destination. This brings both advantages and great responsibility. The fleet has now grown to over 4,500 boats and yachts, including around 400 larger and more expensive vessels with a significant number of cabins and berths. Despite the increase in the number of vessels, the nautical sector has recorded the same number of visitors as in 2023, with the number of overnight stays down by one percent. However, it is difficult to assess these numbers on a county level, as nautical tourism guests do not recognize borders – they board in one county, travel along the entire coastline, and stay overnight in various destinations,” noted Tomaš, thanking Marina Baotić’s owner and his team for their vision, persistence, and energy in organizing this important fair, which will showcase everything that Croatia’s charter industry has to offer.
Director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Ivana Vladović, pointed out that the first edition of the Dalmatia Boat Show last year sent stunning images of Seget Donji across the world.
“Nautical tourism is of immense importance to us, and all the fairs and presentations we have attended so far indicate a promising tourist season ahead. The Split-Dalmatia County stands out both in terms of infrastructure and natural beauty, with safe waters that keep us at the top of, dare I say, the global nautical scene. Events like the Dalmatia Boat Show are the perfect gateway to the upcoming season,” said Ivana Vladović.
