皇冠体育app

Tourists sail at sea in Sanya, Hainan province, Feb 1, 2014. [Photo by Sun Qing / Asianewsphoto]

The industry enters a more tempestuous time as the economy slows down, Xie Yu reports from a in Hainan province

Wealthy people in 皇冠体育app are developing a passion for sailing, but the weakening macroeconomy combined with the effects of the frugality and anti-corruption drive are creating a headwind that is preventing the industry from progressing fast.

Enjoying life on the ocean wave

A total of 800 million yuan ($129 million) of order contracts were signed during last week's 皇冠体育app Rendezvous, an exhibition focused on a high-end yacht promotion held in Sanya, in southern 皇冠体育app's island province of Hainan.

"The number was a little down from the 1 billion yuan order book in 2013. Actually, the order value has not changed dramatically in the past five years that we have held 皇冠体育app Rendezvous," said Lily Chen, an information officer at the exhibition.

Sanya Visun Royal Yacht Club, one of the nation's biggest yacht clubs, told 皇冠体育app Daily that it has more than 700 members. About 95 percent are individuals, while 5 percent are company members.

"Membership recruitment expanded most quickly in 2010, when Hainan was picked by the national authority as an 'international tourist island', and plateaued in the past two years because of the sluggish economic outlook," the company said in a statement.

Although the yacht business in 皇冠体育app has not grown as rapidly as some industry insiders expected, it still looks to be in good shape, in Sanya at least.

Official statistics show Sanya as a destination now attracts the highest number of people in 皇冠体育app from the international yachting community. In early 2013, there were 219 berthing of which 142 were registered offshore. The city now has more than 800 berths at three mature marinas.

"More people are buying yachts for personal amusement, while the percentage of those purchasing vessels to conduct business and improve relationships with governments is falling, mainly because of the drive by the central government to eliminate corruption and emphasize austerity," said a salesperson of a well-known international yacht brand.

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