To truly understand the weight of yachting in the Marche region, it is not enough to look at shipbuilding figures. One must travel through the territory, enter the shipyards, visit companies, and meet the designers, architects and entrepreneurs who every day contribute to building one of the most internationally recognised supply chains. This was the aim of the press tour organised by Associazione Marche Yachting and Cruising (AMYC) and ATIM, the Marche Agency for Tourism and Internationalisation, which from 10 to 12 June brought to the region journalists from the international press specialising in the yachting and lifestyle sectors.
The initiative opened in Ancona with a round-table discussion involving institutions, representatives of the regional economic and academic world, and leading figures from the local yachting supply chain. The opening remarks were delivered by Giacomo Bugaro, Councillor of the Marche Region with responsibility for economic development, internationalisation and the blue economy, who highlighted the role of Marche yachting as a strategic sector for the economic growth of the territory. In his speech, he underlined the value of a supply chain that brings together major shipbuilding brands, component companies, designers and highly specialised skills, also relaunching the prospect of developing in the future a trade fair event dedicated to the local yachting industry. Also speaking were Gino Sabatini, President of the Marche Chamber of Commerce, Giovanni Zinni, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Ancona, Mario Baldassarri, President of ISTAO, Donato Iacobucci of the Marche Polytechnic University, and Maurizio Minossi, President of AMYC, who highlighted the economic, employment and international contribution of the regional yachting supply chain.
One of the central moments of the day was the talk dedicated to the relationship between yachting, design, architecture and territory, moderated by Francesco Casoli, President of Elica. Taking part in the discussion were Nicolò De Vita of FM Architettura, Laura Pomponi, founder and CEO of Luxury Projects, and Alessandro Massari of Massari Design, who described how creativity, design culture, manufacturing capability and craftsmanship represent some of the distinctive elements of the Marche identity. The aim of the initiative was to offer international guests a direct experience of the excellences that characterise the Marche region in the sectors of yachting, design and high-end manufacturing, highlighting values such as innovation, savoir-faire, attention to detail and production quality.
The first day continued with a visit to the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, one of the world’s leading hubs dedicated to the construction of luxury cruise ships. The journalists had the opportunity to discover at first hand a company that recently celebrated the delivery of the first unit of the Four Seasons Yachts fleet and is currently building several ships for Viking Cruises. The tour then continued at Poltrona Frau, where guests visited the company museum and production departments. On this occasion, Marina Santucci, Director of ATIM, reiterated the importance of initiatives capable of promoting the territory on international markets by enhancing companies, skills and industrial capabilities. The day ended in Portonovo, on the Conero Riviera, offering participants the opportunity to discover also the region’s landscape and natural heritage.
The second day was dedicated to an in-depth look at the companies operating in the yachting and high-end residential supply chains. After visiting Cantori, the journalists reached the new headquarters of FM Architettura to learn more about a professional experience that combines design, creativity and innovation.
In the afternoon, the group visited three of the most important players in international yachting based in the Marche region: Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, Cantiere delle Marche and Palumbo Superyachts. Three different companies in terms of size and specialisation, but united by their ability to build yachts and superyachts for the main international markets.
The press tour ended with the awareness that only part of a particularly extensive industrial and manufacturing heritage had been presented. A heritage that AMYC and ATIM intend to continue promoting through new initiatives aimed at the international press and stakeholders, with the objective of further strengthening the positioning of the Marche region among the reference territories for yachting and high-end manufacturing.