ICOMIA unveils programme for 2027 World Marinas Conference in Shanghai

Shanghai will take centre stage as the global marina industry looks towards Asia, with ICOMIA preparing to bring its World Marinas Conference to mainland China for the first time. The 2027 event will combine industry insight with site visits and business networking as the region’s boating and marina markets continue to attract international attention.

Now, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and conference host Sinoexpo Informa Markets have announced the preliminary conference programme for the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference 2027 (IWMC2027), taking place in Shanghai, China, from 30 March – 2 April 2027.

This is the first ICOMIA World Marinas Conference to be held in mainland China and is set to recognise the growing influence of the Asia-Pacific region.

Asia-Pacific growth takes centre stage

ICOMIA’s decision to select Shanghai as the host city for IWMC2027 marks a strategic milestone for the organisation, which it says signals strong recognition of the rapidly growing recreational boating and marina market in Asia – and China in particular.

As a global financial centre and an international gateway, Shanghai sits at the heart of the Yangtze River Delta. Its port infrastructure and ongoing waterfront transformations make it an ideal venue to convene global industry leaders and explore the vast potential of the Asia-Pacific marina landscape.

Under the banner of connecting globally to develop marinas that enhance waterfront communities and drive economic growth, IWMC2027’s pre-conference day will offer delegates optional morning tours of the China International Boat Show 2027 (CIBS) and a Shanghai city orientation. Further information is available on the conference website.

Then, conference sessions will look at growth opportunities across Asia, and development roadmaps shaping regional markets. Sessions will also examine marina master planning and the repositioning of existing facilities, covering both new developments and the transformation of established sites.

Industry tours and B2B matchmaking planned

There will be a focus on the business and operational challenges facing marinas, including business models, investment, economic impact, commercial performance and revenue optimisation. Sessions will also cover operational best practice, workforce training and customer experience before looking ahead to environmental leadership, innovation, technology and AI.

As well as this, ICOMIA says there will be industry visits, commercial discussions and business development opportunities. Delegates can tour leading Shanghai marina facilities, explore marina business models, investor requirements and revenue optimisation, and take part in B2B matchmaking connecting global investors with regional projects.