The 7th Yacht Industry Development Conference will be held in Zhuhai on Dec 10-12 and is expected to increase the city's role in the sector as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area develops.

In view of Zhuhai's considerable advantages in the industry, the conference will address increased yacht consumption, bringing China's yacht economy more into the leisure service industry, developing the industry chain supply chain, central and local yacht policies, and greater cooperation among waterfront cities.

In addition, it will promote Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao yacht free travel and push for high-quality leisure tourism in Zhuhai with solutions based on the ocean, islands, and coastline, said Zheng Weihang. Zheng is executive chair and secretary-general of the China Cruise & Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA), which is responsible for leading and developing the yacht and cruise industry, and leads the National Expert Steering Committee of Yacht Development (NESCYD).

Yachts moored in Zhuhai [File photo]

Zheng cited Zhuhai's proximity to Hong Kong and Macao, vast sea access, long coastline, and numerous islands. For instance, Pingsha Yacht & Leisure Zone in the Gaolan Port Economic Zone has grown into the largest yacht manufacturing base in China and a world-renowned yacht manufacturing cluster after 18 years in development.

The businesses of Pingsha cover the R&D, production, sales, and maintenance of luxury, business, special, law enforcement, and passenger transport yachts. Some brands are exported to the USA, UK, Italy, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

National ministry and commission officials, government staff, industrial experts, and yacht manufacturers will tour local yacht enterprises and attend forums on yacht policy and economy, and development in the Greater Bay Area.

Scheduled are also a NESCYD work conference and yacht industry dialogue, symposium on the development of national yacht industry associations, 3rd award ceremony for Chinese Yacht Brands, release conference for the 2019 China Yacht Industry Report, investment matchmaking session for yacht enterprises, and fair for yacht equipment purchases.

The conference is organized by the Zhuhai Municipal People's Government and CCYIA with support from NESCYD and the China Communications & Transportation Association.