Cautious optimism in the outlook for the recreational boating sector

The Spanish National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN) has released key findings from its second Perception Study on the State of the Nautical Sector in Spain for the second half of 2024.

The study is based on surveys conducted among companies from various sub-sectors of recreational boating: Marinas and Yacht Clubs, Accessories, Workshops, Engines, Consultancy, Administrative services, Charter companies, Shipyards and Refit & Repair, Nautical training schools, Boat sales, and Recreational and sporting activities.

The survey spans twelve autonomous communities, with Catalonia having the highest number of participating companies, followed by the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, Andalusia, the Basque Country, Galicia, the Canary Islands, the Community of Madrid, Asturias, the Region of Murcia, Navarre, and Cantabria.

One of the main goals of the study is to understand the actual state of the nautical sector. About half of the companies reported an increase in revenue in the second half of 2024.

Of the 51.32% of companies that reported increased revenues between July and December 2024, 38.82% experienced a slight increase, while 12.50% saw a significant rise. Meanwhile, 24.34% stated that their revenues remained stable, and the same percentage reported a decline.

Regarding expectations for the current year, 49.34% of companies are moderately optimistic: 44.08% expect a slight increase in revenue, and 5.26% anticipate a significant rise.

On the other hand, 26.97% of respondents believe their revenue will remain the same as last year. On the negative side, 19.74% foresee a slight decline, and 3.95% expect a considerable drop.

Additionally, over half of the companies surveyed plan to increase extraordinary investment in 2025 in areas such as hiring, training, marketing and communications—an indication of positive confidence in the sector’s outlook.

Regarding investment in recruitment, the study shows that 30.92% of companies expect to increase it, 53.95% plan to maintain current levels, and 15.13% anticipate a decrease. In total, 54.61% of companies plan to hire new staff in 2025, 30.92% said they would not, and 14.47% said they are still unsure.

Expectations for investment in staff training in 2025 are also positive, with the survey indicating a stable outlook and a slight increase in training budgets. Some 38.82% of companies expect to increase this investment, while a majority—55.26%—believe it will remain unchanged, and only 5.92% foresee a reduction.

The marketing and communication departments of nautical companies are also expected to benefit from increased investment in 2025. A total of 47.36% of companies plan to increase their marketing spend, 42.76% will maintain current levels, and 9.87% intend to reduce it.

However, one ongoing concern for the sector is the difficulty in finding qualified personnel with the necessary skills and competencies. Only 5.92% of companies surveyed said they always find suitable talent when needed, 28.95% said they do so occasionally, and 57.89% said they rarely manage to find the right profiles. Finally, 7.24% stated that they never find suitable candidates.