Greece at the Heart of Marine Leisure at BOOT 2026

Greece at the Heart of Marine Leisure at BOOT 2026

 

Athens, 5 February 2026 | The international boat and marine tourism exhibition BOOT 2026 took place from 17 to 25 January in Düsseldorf, bringing together the entire marine leisure ecosystem: boats, marine equipment, water sports, and related services. This year’s event attracted more than 200,000 visitors from 120 countries, with 1,500 exhibitors from 67 countries, reaffirming BOOT’s position as the leading international reference point for the industry.

Enterprise Greece organized the Greek national participation for the 8th consecutive year, offering Greek companies a strong platform to enhance their international presence. Greek exhibitors held dozens of business meetings, paving the way for new partnerships and contracts, further strengthening the sector’s outward orientation.

The heightened interest from visitors and buyers in the Greek presence confirms that Greece is consolidating its position as an international hub of production, expertise, and services in the maritime economy, reinforcing the country’s competitive edge within the global Blue Economy ecosystem.

On the opening day, the Governor of the Attica Region, Mr. Nikos Hardalias; the Consul General of Greece in Düsseldorf, Ms. Chara Baltouma; and the Head of the Office for Economic and Commercial Affairs, Ms. Nonika Papadopoulou, visited the Greek pavilion and engaged in discussions with representatives of the participating Greek companies.

The CEO of Enterprise Greece, Mr. Marinos Giannopoulos, stated: “Greece’s presence at BOOT 2026 is not merely an exhibition participation, but a strategic vote of confidence in the extroversion and innovation of the Greek maritime sector. At a time when marine tourism and shipbuilding are being reshaped with sustainability and digital technology at their core, our country is dynamically asserting its presence. Our goal is to highlight the top quality of Greek shipbuilding and the reliability of our marine equipment. We are committed to actively supporting the professionals who place the Greek flag at the forefront of the global Blue Economy.”

Dynamic parallel events program

This year’s participation was complemented by a targeted program of presentations, in cooperation with Messe Düsseldorf, showcasing the multidimensional nature of Greek marine tourism:

• “Greece Day” at Hall 13 (Destinations & Boat Life), 21 January: Presentations by the Region of Attica as a leading travel destination, as well as by the Municipality of Kea, represented by Mayor Ms. Eirini Velissaropoulou. At the same time, the companies Athenian Yachts and Y/Knot analyzed current trends in yachting and chartering in Greece.
• Focus on Diving Tourism (22, 23 & 25 January): The Municipality of Kea presented the Kea Diving Park, with diver Mr. Giannis Tzavelakos as speaker, highlighting unique alternative tourism experiences and the sustainable utilization of Greece’s marine wealth.