International Federation of Boat Show Organisers

• Mar 28, 2026, 1:27:00 PM

2026 Korea International Boat Show A Success with Strong Visitor Turnout

The 2026 Korea International Boat Show, the largest boat show and marine leisure tourism exhibition in Korea, has successfully concluded amid strong interest and participation from visitors.

Hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Gyeonggi Province, the event was held for three days from March 6 to 8 at KINTEX in Goyang. The show was co-located with the Korea International Fishing Show and the Camping & Picnic Fair, offering a comprehensive platform to explore both the marine leisure and outdoor industries. This year’s exhibition featured a wide range of participants, including boat manufacturers, marine leisure equipment companies, and businesses related to fishing and camping, showcasing the latest products and technologies across the industry.

In collaboration with the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), an international conference was also held. The program included the ICOMIA AWG Conference and an open panel discussion featuring Joe Lynch and other industry experts. In addition, both international and open conferences were organized, providing opportunities for industry professionals and the general public alike to engage in dialogue on marine leisure trends.

Participating companies also reported notable on-site achievements. One large-scale exhibitor recorded approximately KRW 2.5 billion in on-site sales during the exhibition period, including contracts for 30 boats. Another company engaged in export consultations worth approximately USD 1.2 million with overseas buyers for yacht docking and maintenance services through a dedicated business matching program.

Visitors to the exhibition enjoyed not only boat displays but also a variety of fishing and camping products, as well as hands-on experience programs. Family-friendly activities such as Air Surf Bounce, mini hovercraft building, and marine safety VR experiences, along with participatory content including a surf show DJ performance and the exhibition of award-winning works from the 3rd Photo Contest, received positive responses, particularly from family visitors.

A visitor who attended the show with their family commented, “It was very satisfying to be able to see and even test boats that I had previously only researched online, leading to an actual purchase. There were also many activities for my children, so we ended up spending much more enjoyable time here than expected.”

Joe Lynch, CEO of ICOMIA, stated, “Seeing many companies participating with innovative and new exhibits, it is clear that the Korea International Boat Show stands at the center of Korea’s marine leisure industry.” He added, “Korea’s marine leisure industry is already significant in scale, and considering the growing public interest and government investment, further growth is highly anticipated. Co-locating the event with fishing and camping exhibitions is also an effective approach to connect broader outdoor leisure audiences with boating.”

Meanwhile, the Korea International Boat Show is approaching its 20th anniversary next year and is scheduled to take place again in March 2027 at KINTEX. More information is available on the official website of the Korea International Boat Show.