The second edition of Turkey’s largest indoor yacht show, the Bosphorus Boat Show On Land, drew to a close on 22 February 2025. As the world’s second-largest land-based boat show after boot Düsseldorf, the eight-day event took place at the Istanbul Expo Centre, spanning five halls and showcasing an impressive array of motor yachts, sailing yachts, tenders, water toys and marine equipment.
According to the Yacht and Boat Industry Association (YATED), which has organised the event for the past two years, the show welcomed over 41,000 visitors and 193 exhibitors this year, with Turkey dominating an overwhelming 96 per cent of the exhibitor demographic. International participants hailed from the Netherlands, China, Cyprus, Italy and Germany.
Despite its strong turnout, the event faced a slight decline in exhibitor numbers compared to the previous year. YATED’s vice president, Cem Hüroğlu, attributed this to the high exhibitor fees - an unavoidable consequence of Turkey’s persistently high inflation, which has exceeded 40 per cent in recent years.
Taxation changes have also impacted the industry. YATED’s general secretary, Orhun Şentürk, highlighted that prior to August 2024, private yachts were exempt from VAT, categorised as sea transport vehicles. However, recent reforms have removed this exemption, increasing financial pressure on yacht owners and manufacturers. Şentürk expressed hope that the event would send a strong message to the Turkish government, encouraging further support for the sector.
However, despite economic headwinds, many brands return to the Bosphorus Boat Show year after year, demonstrating its vital platform for businesses. Notable shipyards such as Sanlorenzo, Yacht Factory and Fabbro Yachts reaffirmed the event’s significance in their marketing and sales strategies.
While the show primarily featured sub-24-metre boats - including shipyards such as Princess, Prestige and Hanse Yachts – there was one superyacht on display: the 26.8-metre Sanlorenzo SL86 Asymmetric.
In addition to yachts, the show featured an impressive range of tenders. Şentürk noted the rising popularity of RIBs in the Turkish market, with prominent local brands such as North Star, Jeetrib and Yuka drawing significant attention. Yuka, in particular, launched a new vintage-style electric tender in collaboration with Temsa. Other exhibitors included water toy suppliers, yacht equipment manufacturers, marina groups and industry associations.
Beyond the exhibits, the event hosted a series of discussion panels on key industry topics, including the impact of the Santorini earthquake, branding in yachting and the power of women in the industry. While these sessions were conducted in Turkish this year, YATED’s association manager, Kadir Karakaya, expressed his intention to introduce English-language talks in future editions to attract a broader international audience.
Looking ahead, the event is set to expand further, with plans to increase from five to eight halls in 2026. Şentürk suggested that this expansion could lead to a greater presence of superyachts at the show while broadening the exhibitor and visitor demographic. In addition to the Bosphorus Boat Show On Land, the Bosphorus Boat Show In Water is scheduled to return later this year from 25 October to 2 November 2025.