During the week of October 16th-20th, a delegation from Costa Rica visited Palma de Mallorca to see first hand some of Europe’s state of the art facilities and services for superyachts.
The delegation consisted of Andres Pacheco, owner of Marina Bahia Golfito, Pedro Abdalla and Maikol Barrantes, respectively director and dockmaster of Marina Bahia Golfito, and Allan Lucas of ESTELA Shipping Costa Rica.
Hosted by ESTELA Shipping in Palma de Mallorca and in Barcelona, the delegation visited dockyards, maritime institutions, marinas, and a number of companies working with superyachts in the Balearics and Spain’s mainland.
At the conclusion of their visit, the delegation shared some of their impressions and takeaways to be utilised in developing Costa Rica’s superyacht services:
During a guided tour of STP in Palma, the operating model was an eye-opener, as an open platform for repair and maintenance, where service providers compete and are contracted directly by yacht managers. The efficiency, practicality and flexibility this business model provides were popular with captains and managers alike.
Visiting Moll Vell Marina and the promotional agency, Balearic Yacht Destination, they heard about how governmental bodies and commercial enterprise can collaborate to address the needs of the yachting market and develop strategies to attract more visitors into the future.
Costa Rica is a new destination where the superyacht industry is in its infancy, with a great deal to learn about implementing the facilities and services that attract superyachts
During a meeting with Giulio Riggio, director of Fraser Yachts, the discussion focused on current issues and trends in yachting, and how the market may develop in future.
A visit to Port Adriano and meeting with its director, Nani Mas, showcased the industry-leading facilities of a state-of-the-art marina complex. Its combination of a wide range of moorings, shipyard, commercial premises and leisure facilities, and a busy events programme, provided much to consider for a burgeoning destination such as Costa Rica.
“The visit offered some great insights into what makes a successful superyacht destination, which will inform our strategic direction in Costa Rica.”
