The countdown on the website of the Düsseldorf trade fair is still counting down: the world's largest water sports trade fair was due to open its doors in 22 days. However, it had already been clear for weeks that boot would shrink in size in 2022. Due to the rising incidence of the coronavirus pandemic, major companies such as Hanseyachts AG and Groupe Beneteau had long since cancelled the participation of their numerous brands in the trade fair. Others, however, especially the trade fair management, held on to their participation until the very end. At the beginning of December, they were still firmly convinced that nothing would stand in the way of the trade fair taking place.
However, the rising corona figures in December and the wave of coronavirus expected by experts, which is expected to sweep across Germany after the holidays in mid-January, made even the most optimistic exhibitor look to the coming weeks with concern. But at some point, exhibitors had to get their ships and exhibition stands on their way and invest money in them. In view of the global coronavirus pandemic and new quarantine requirements for visitors and exhibitors from virus variant areas, many wondered whether the trade fair would have to be cancelled at short notice after all.
Now that the first yachts have been lifted ashore by Big Willi - many of which had a long journey on their own keel - the state government in North Rhine-Westphalia announced its decision yesterday evening not to authorise any major events in January. This inevitably includes boot, which was planned to take place from 22 to 30 January 2022.
"I welcome the fact that the state has specified a number of points in its Corona Protection Ordinance," says Düsseldorf's Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller on the website of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs NRW, "It is certainly regrettable that the boot trade fair in January is now also subject to the ban. However, I had already agreed with the management of Messe Düsseldorf in advance not to take any unjustifiable risks and to cancel boot if necessary."
"We are cancelling the trade fair with a heavy heart," said trade fair boss Wolfram N. Diener yesterday evening of the Rheinische Post "We bow to health protection and see this as a civic duty."
