Representatives of AENIB and ANEN meet with the Minister of Sea and Water Cycle

This week, a delegation comprising representatives from the Association of Nautical Companies in the Balearic Islands (AENIB) and the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN) convened at the Department of Sea and the Water Cycle's headquarters, received by Minister Juan Manuel Lafuente. The purpose of this meeting was to furnish the Minister with firsthand insights into the state of the nautical sector, spanning both the national and regional perspectives.

Among the attendees from the nautical sector were Jaume Vaquer, President of AENIB; Jordi Carrasco, General Director of ANEN; Sandra Mayrata, the legal advisor of AENIB; and Carlos Sanlorenzo, the legal representative of ANEN. On the government side, Minister Lafuente was joined by Antoni Mercant, Director General of Ports and Maritime Transportation.

Throughout the meeting, the sector representatives engaged in discussions concerning the necessary measures they believed should be enacted to promote recreational boating in the Balearic Islands. Reflecting on this initial contact, Vaquer and Carrasco observed, "The Minister expressed a strong commitment to understanding and addressing the sector's needs. Both sides actively encouraged the sharing of information and vowed to maintain close cooperation. We have agreed to reconvene in the near future for a more comprehensive discussion on the sector's intricacies and the actions required to stimulate the marine industry."

Furthermore, the prospect of hosting the General Assembly of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) in Palma in 2025 was explored.

In parallel, the sector's representatives presented a proposal, jointly developed with the European Boating Industry (EBI), to be submitted to the European Commission and the State Secretariat for Tourism. This proposal relates to the organization of the European Tourism Forum scheduled to take place in Palma. The sector requested the inclusion of nautical tourism as a pivotal topic on the agenda of European Tourism ministers.

Jordi Carrasco emphasized, "We seized the opportunity to delineate the current state of the sector in Spain, particularly the unique circumstances in the Balearic Islands, highlighting its immense potential. We explained the challenges obstructing the day-to-day operations of companies and users in the sector. At this juncture, we have presented a summary of potential measures and projects slated for the next four years, coupled with a brief report outlining the situation, including an analysis of the issues and the corresponding remedial measures."