| ign="center"> | | | | State or by the Port Trusts, and their statutory |
| Definitions: A "yacht" is a vessel used primarily for | | | | procedures make the identification, allocation, and |
| pleasure. Hence "motor yacht" and "sailing yacht". | | | | permitting of land and water for marinas and repair |
| A "marina" is a harbour that is purpose-designed for | | | | yards an extremely slow process. The permitting |
| yachts. | | | | procedures, rather than funding, is where the |
| Many international commentators throw scorn at the | | | | bottleneck lies. Left to the private sector there would |
| importance of the Indian yachting market, but as with | | | | have been a proliferation of marina and yacht |
| so many things in life it all comes down to the power | | | | ancillaries industry but the government bodies have |
| of numbers. With a population of 1.15 billion, a rapidly | | | | made this almost impossible. |
| growing middle-class with an appetite for luxury goods, | | | | This then begs the question, is the yachting industry |
| and economic growth at around 7%, the figures speak | | | | worth supporting? Well here are some comparable |
| for themselves. As for the age old argument, that | | | | from the UK with its population of a mere 61 million (i.e. |
| everyone in India is poor, one only needs to do the | | | | only 5% of the size of India's) and rather inclement |
| math - Even if only 0.01% of the population (i.e. 1 in | | | | weather. The statistics come from the British Marine |
| 10,000) are presently ready to consider buying a boat | | | | Federation's surveys for 2007/2008. |
| then that already represents 120,000 potential | | | | ⢠Industry revenue for the leisure and small |
| customers. This is almost exactly the same as the | | | | commercial marine industry in the UK in 2007/2008 |
| total number of pleasure boats longer than 7.5 meters | | | | was 23,250 crore rupees. |
| in the whole of the UK . The fact is that anyone who | | | | ⢠In addition to the industry revenue, the |
| can afford to buy an imported motorcar can certainly | | | | economic benefits of tourism-related spend in the UK |
| consider buying a boat. And the boat will almost | | | | was estimated to be a further 16,500 crore rupees. |
| certainly give him/her more pleasure. | | | | ⢠Total employees in the UK estimated to be |
| The lack of infrastructure has been the stumbling block | | | | 35,200 full-time equivalent. |
| for the yachting industry. The motorcar industry is a | | | | ⢠The wider economic benefits of the 238 |
| valid comparison. One could never imagine a | | | | coastal marinas in the UK and the Channel Islands |
| manufacturer launching cars on the market without | | | | resulted in an estimated 5,250 crore rupees value of |
| first establishing the necessary chain of workshops | | | | added contributions. |
| and spare parts stores to service them. Yet with | | | | So the potential for India's yachting industry is huge, but |
| yachting in India the present situation is the antithesis of | | | | it is dependent on infrastructure. And infrastructure |
| this. Yachts are being bought but there are very few | | | | means marinas and repair yards. |
| facilities for berthing and servicing them. So why is | | | | Marina consultant Simon Arrol has 17 years |
| this? | | | | experience in the dredging and harbour works industry. |
| Although a motor-car manufacturer can find premises | | | | This was followed by twenty two years in the marina |
| for workshops and stores relatively easily, the yachting | | | | development and marina consultancy including sixteen |
| sector struggles to find land suitable for marinas and | | | | years as managing director of Camper & Nicholsons |
| repair yards. Why? Because most of the | | | | Marinas Limited and 2 years as a director of Island |
| coastline, especially in urban areas, is controlled by the | | | | Global Yachting Dubai LLC. |