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War scuppers Beirut boat show
BEIRUT, Lebanon -- The war in Iraq has prompted the cancellation of the international boat show in Lebanon, Beirut Boat 2003, organizers said. Show sponsor Arab Marine Industries Association pulled the plug in consultation with organizers Messe Düsseldorf and International Fairs and Promotion. "Our chances at the moment of bringing visitors in are very slim," said Messe Düsseldorf project director Abdul-Rahman Adib. "Trade fairs are events that are highly sensitive to the political and economic mood. "If we went ahead with the fair, we would risk not being able to live up to our exhibitors' justifiable expectations as regards number and calibre of the fair contacts," he added It was due to run from May 28 to June 1, but the next one is scheduled for May 2004. The long-term impact of the war on the marine industry was yet to be assessed. The 2003 Dubai International boat show opened as the war began and the organizers claimed that deals in excess of US$4.35 million were made by the end of the show on March 21, with 26 craft sold. "The success of the event is even sweeter because it has been achieved against the backdrop of a conflict in the region which started on the very first day of the show," said the show director Mubarak bin Fahad. The Dubai show attracted 129 exhibitors, 67 per cent of which were international exhibitors from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and the USA. Outside of the Middle East, superyacht charter brokers in the Mediterranean are reporting slower bookings for the start on the summer season. Many US clients, who traditionally made up about 40 per cent of their custom, were not yet willing to commit themselves to overseas travel.
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