Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Draws Visitors From Across the Globe
Sponsored by: City of Fort Lauderdale
The best place to see a boat is on the water, and the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) in Fort Lauderdale, FL, provides that opportunity on a grand scale.
Utilizing more than 6 miles of floating docks across nearly 90 acres of the Florida city’s waterfront, FLIBS is the largest in-water boat show in the world.
More than 1,300 vessels – from sailboats to superyachts – are on display at seven locations: the Broward County Convention Center, Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Las Olas Marina, Pier 66 Marina and Superyacht Village at Pier 66 South. From those seven spots, visitors can find a boat that will take them across the seven seas.
Owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and produced by Informa Markets, the five-day show (Oct. 25-29 in 2023) regularly attracts more than 100,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors representing 50-plus countries.
“Fort Lauderdale is the yachting capital of the world,” Mayor Dean Trantalis says. “We are excited to welcome visitors from around the state, nation and globe to spend time with us in our beautiful city.”
Since approximately half the attendees are from outside Florida, FLIBS generates significant economic waves each year when it drops anchor in Fort Lauderdale. This includes:
- $1.79 billion in statewide economic output through show purchases and expenditures.
- $709.7 million in estimated sales by Florida companies.
- $85.8 million in state and local taxes generated within Florida, including $24.5 million in Broward County alone.
- $47.3 million in estimated total expenditures by non-local visitors and exhibitors.
“The economic impact of the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show is immeasurable,” Public Affairs Division Manager Daphnee Sainvil says. “This longstanding community event (the first show was in 1959) continues to engage international visitors and investors, while still maintaining its popularity among the local community.”
