Recreational boating is sailing in gold like never before. The year 2022 closed with a record turnover of more than seven billion euros in Italy. Just over a quarter, nearly two billion euros, made in the industrial district that has Viareggio as its center and the area from Livorno to Massa as the area of shipyards. This is where modern motoryachts began to be built about 70 years ago. It is a district that employs about 7,000 people and has as its undisputed leader the Azimut Benetti group, which tops the Global Order Book world ranking for yachts over 24 meters. The company celebrated 150 years since its founding last spring with sales approaching one billion euros. The company boasts more than two thousand employees , six shipyards and a network of 138 sales and service outlets worldwide. A volume of business that has also tickled the appetites of the Arabs who have entered the company (with a 33 percent minority stake) with the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The majority of shares, however, remain with the Vitelli family. Viareggio is headed by other major shipyards, such as Next Yacht Group, Overmarine, Codecasa, Rossinavi, as well as hundreds of suppliers at the top in quality, innovation, design, and product engineering. All will be showcased in the Genoa International Boat Show from September 21-26.
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