Hundreds of domestic and foreign boats will be on display at the Istanbul Expo Center from February 21–28
The Can-Am Bosphorus Boat Show, which will take place at the Istanbul Expo Center from February 21–28, brings together the yacht and boat industry. Murat Bekiroğlu, President of the Yacht and Boat Industry Association (YATED), stated that over 500 brands, more than 500 boats, and over 200 participants will be attending the exhibition. The event, held across six halls and covering an area of 27,000 square meters, will feature not only world-renowned brands but also domestic manufacturers. Bekiroğlu emphasized the significant support provided to domestic producers at this exhibition, saying, “A special 5,000 square meter area has been allocated for domestic producers. Our goal is to connect these producers with foreign buyers.” He also mentioned that hundreds of boats, ranging from 3 meters to 30 meters in length, will be displayed at the land exhibition, with those that cannot be showcased at the venue being available for visits at Ataköy Marina. Despite the challenges in the industry, the exhibition aims to generate a significant commercial volume.
The yacht and boat industry is preparing to meet at the Can-Am Bosphorus Boat Show, which will be held from February 21–28, organized by the Yacht and Boat Industry Association (YATED) and supported by ED Fuarcılık. The event, which will take place at the Istanbul Expo Center under the Can-Am Main Sponsorship, is titled “The World’s Second Largest Land Exhibition.” Over 500 brands, more than 500 boats, and over 200 participants will gather under one roof. The show aims to increase the sector’s global competitiveness, and more than 50,000 visitors are expected to create a significant commercial volume. Prior to the exhibition, YATED President Murat Bekiroğlu made a statement. The meeting was attended by YATED Board Member Uğur Aksan, YATED Secretary-General Orhun Şentürk, YATED General Manager Kadir Karakaya, ED Fuarcılık Co-Founder Dilek Soydan, ED Fuarcılık Co-Founder Emel Yılmaz, and Ataköy Marina General Manager Artun Ertem.
27,000 SQUARE METERS ACROSS SIX HALLS
Murat Bekiroğlu mentioned that more than 2,500 products, ranging from motor yachts and marine engines to catamarans and boat equipment and accessories, will be showcased at the Can-Am Bosphorus Boat Show. “A major gathering will take place where everything related to boats will be available, allowing for pre-season needs to be met and people to purchase their dream boats,” he said. “We will welcome our visitors for 8 days at our exhibition.” Bekiroğlu further stated that the exhibition continues to grow every year and said: “We are collaborating with Ataköy Marina for this event. We are organizing both our sea and land exhibitions in collaboration with them, and we will also handle the transfer of boats at the land exhibition. Additionally, boats that cannot be displayed on land are exhibited at Ataköy Marina. This year, our exhibition will cover approximately 27,000 square meters across 6 halls. Despite the challenging economic conditions, we are organizing a truly successful exhibition. Thanks to long-term agreements with the Istanbul Expo Center, significant pricing advantages have been provided to exhibitors. This year, despite the increase in inflation rates, prices were raised by only 12%, ensuring that exhibitors felt the inflation difference minimally. In addition, a 10% discount was offered to members who made payments in advance, allowing them to participate at last year’s prices. The association also provides additional support for participating companies; it covers exhibition expenses up to a certain kilowatt-hour limit and pays half of the handling costs. With these supports, we aim to provide opportunities for exhibitors during these tough times.”
OUR GOAL IS TO AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF OUR INDUSTRY
Murat Bekiroğlu emphasized the significant support provided to local producers at this exhibition, stating, “We have offered substantial privileges to local producers. Additionally, we have allocated four-five thousand square meters of space for them. This area has enabled us to ensure more participation from our local manufacturers. World-renowned brands will also, as always, be part of our exhibition. Representatives from international organizations, such as the European Boatbuilding Industry Association (EBI) and the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), will also be attending our exhibition. Furthermore, we will organize nearly 20 events related to our sector during the exhibition. Our goal is to amplify the voice of our industry in increasingly challenging markets and to provide boating enthusiasts with an exciting week through our exhibition.”
DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS MEET FOREIGN BUYERS
Orhun Şentürk emphasized that this year’s goal is not to increase the number of participants, but rather to raise the number of foreign visitors. “Our main objective is to create a platform where local manufacturers can meet foreign customers, especially with foreign buyers making up the majority. The sea and land events at the Bosphorus Boat Show offer a significant display opportunity for local manufacturers. Through this platform, local producers have the chance to communicate directly with potential buyers. However, due to uncertainties in the sector and economic fluctuations, we cannot provide a precise figure for the targets. Exchange rates, global market changes, and other factors can fluctuate rapidly. Therefore, the biggest focus is to offer domestic manufacturers the opportunity to meet buyers during this challenging period,” he said.
BOATS THAT CAN’T REACH LAND WILL BE DISPLAYED IN WATER
Dilek Soydan stated that the boats displayed at the exhibition will range from 3 meters to 30 meters in length. “This year, high-tech boats, equipment, and accessories will also be featured at the exhibition. Boats that cannot be brought to land or are unable to enter the Istanbul Expo Center will meet visitors at Ataköy Marina. The land exhibition is more challenging than the sea exhibition. Boats are taken from the sea, loaded onto large trucks, and transported to the exhibition area. Additionally, we have boats coming from abroad. This year, substantial support has been given to local manufacturers. YATED has embraced local manufacturers, and this support has been very important at a time when the sector needs it most. The value placed on domestic manufacturers should actually be seen as the beginning of a long journey, because with the development of local production, our industry will become even stronger,” she said.
‘WE ARE STRUGGLING IN COMPETITION’
Murat Bekiroğlu also made evaluations about the ship, boat, and yacht industry, stating, “According to the data announced by the Ship, Yacht, and Services Exporters’ Association for 2025, total exports exceeded 2 billion dollars. This figure was supported by income from ‘refit’ projects, which include boat refitting and maintenance services. The refit operations conducted in 2025 reached nearly 2 billion dollars, but a decline is expected for 2026. Particularly, new tax regulations targeting the US and the increasing competition in Northern Europe have intensified the challenges the sector faces. In the European market, Poland and Norway stand out as the biggest competitors, with labor costs in Poland being lower than in Türkiye, increasing their competitiveness. There is an expectation of a slight decline in the overall market compared to 2025. However, we can say that there is no specific market loss. We can attribute this to the global decline in demand. Although Turkey is a major player in the yacht sector in Europe, it is facing difficulties due to rising labor costs and intensified competition.”
DECREASED SALES IN THE SMALL SEGMENT DUE TO RISING TAXES AND COSTS
Murat Bekiroğlu highlighted that boats priced between 50,000 Euros and 150,000 Euros, which were previously purchased with bank loans and leasing options, are now increasingly difficult to acquire due to rising taxes and marina mooring costs. Noting that the price of a 100,000 Euro boat has risen to as high as 130,000 Euros, Bekiroğlu said: “Additionally, difficulties in accessing financing have negatively affected local producers. Particularly, there has been a decline in the sale of small boats; this segment’s issues in Türkiye are one of the biggest challenges local manufacturers face. Due to high taxes and rising costs, domestic consumers have also started to pull back. While some manufacturers have shifted from domestic production to the global market and continue to grow by making infrastructure investments, the decline in small boats and the weak financial structure of domestic manufacturers are complicating the situation.”
YACHT TOURISTS SPEND 10 TIMES MORE
Addressing one of the biggest problems in the sector, marinas, Murat Bekiroğlu stated, “The lack of marinas in Türkiye is a significant obstacle, especially for the development of yacht tourism. Marina investments provide substantial contributions to the country’s economy both directly and indirectly. The cost of a medium-sized marina investment is over 100 million dollars, and these investments require extensive infrastructure work.” Highlighting the significant contributions marinas make to the Turkish economy, Bekiroğlu emphasized the importance of attracting foreign yacht and boat tourists to Türkiye, particularly for them to stay longer in the country. He continued, “Compared to mass tourism, tourists coming with yachts spend 8-10 times more. Tourists arriving with mega yachts spend even more. Moreover, with suitable marina prices and infrastructure, yacht enthusiasts can spend the winter months in Türkiye, which leads to an increase in refit (maintenance and repair) work and positively impacts various sectors of the local economy. Investments in Turkish marinas spread across the entire economic ecosystem, touching areas such as barbers, greengrocers, and butchers.”
MARINAS INCREASE COMPETITIVE STRENGTH
Artun Ertem, emphasizing the critical role of marinas in the development of Türkiye’s marine tourism, stated that, especially due to the effects of climate change, tropical storms and hurricanes have become more frequent in recent times. He stressed that these weather events pose serious threats to the safety of sailors, saying, “In this context, safe yacht harbors and docking areas are of great importance. These harbors, which are certified by relevant government agencies and provide insurance guarantees, stand out as the safest areas where boat owners can securely dock their vessels. The importance of marinas becomes even more evident during unexpected and severe storms. The marinas also play a very significant role in the sustainability and safety of marine tourism. These infrastructure investments not only ensure the safety of sailors but also enhance Türkiye’s competitiveness in the nautical tourism market.”
Highlights at the Can-Am Bosphorus Boat Show:
– Helicopter Exhibition: For the first time, an helicopter will be showcased at this year’s land exhibition.
– Children’s Activity Areas: Activity areas have been set up for visitors with children. This will allow parents to leave their children at the activity zones and explore the boats.
– Large Boat Exhibition: Boats over 30 meters in length will be displayed at Ataköy Marina. This year, there will be more large boats than before.
– Exhibition Hours Changes: Due to Ramadan, the visiting hours for the exhibition will be from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Additionally, companies can make reservations for test drives at Ataköy Marina after 4:00 PM
– Boat That Can Transition from Land to Sea: A boat that can travel both on land and at sea will be displayed at this year’s exhibition.