More than $1 Billion Worth of Yachts and Accessories on Display From March 21 – 24 at 28th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 28th annual Palm Beach International Boat Show, one of the top 10 boat shows in the country, will showcase a spectacular display of more than $1 billion worth of yachts, boats and accessories from the world’s leading marine manufacturers from March 21 - 24.

Boat buyers and sellers from around the world will gather along scenic Lake Worth Lagoon, overlooking the tony island of Palm Beach, to browse hundreds of boats ranging from small inflatables and center consoles to fishing boats and superyachts over 200 feet.

An economic impact study of the 2012 show, commissioned by the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County and Show Management, calculated its economic impact on the state of Florida at $91.6 million, with $2.8 million in state excise and sales taxes generated. Beyond Florida, marine businesses are a major industry nationwide, serving 82 million boaters and accounting for 350,000 jobs throughout the U.S., according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

New this year, show goers are invited to submit their best Instagram photos of the Palm Beach International Boat Show. Tagging photos with #PalmBeachBoatShow will enter Instagram users into a contest to win a one-year subscription to any of the following AIM Marine Media publications: PassageMaker, Power & Motoryacht, Soundings, Soundings Trade Only, and Yachts International. Photos tagged with #PalmBeachBoatShow will be automatically uploaded to the Palm Beach International Boat Show Facebook page and the five photos with the most likes at the end of the show will win. Photos posted directly to Palm Beach International Boat Show Facebook page also will be accepted in the contest.

New attractions at the show this year include a Zeki Swimwear fashion show on Friday and Saturday and live music by the Captain Harry band on the Meyer Amphitheatre stage. Other special events and educational activities include free IGFA School of Sportfishing seminars and youth fishing clinics presented by the non-profit Hook The Future, open to children ages four to 16. The first 50 children to attend will receive a free rod/reel set and a commemorative t-shirt.

Navigating the show will be easier than ever before thanks to recent enhancements to the MyBoatShow smartphone app, designed to help attendees navigate the docks, land area tents and transportation. In addition to convenient access and parking within walking distance of entrance gates, guests also are invited to come by boat and tie up to free docks located south of the show's in-water displays.

The Palm Beach International Boat Show is owned and sponsored by Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Inc., managed and produced by Show Management and sponsored by Lincoln, Budweiser, Goslings, Yachts International Magazine, Palm Harbor Marina, BoatQuest.com, Power & Motoryacht Magazine, Smallwoods, International Game Fish Association (IGFA) School of Sportfishing, Hook the Future, The Palm Beach Post, Identity Travel, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and TrawlerPort. For more information including parking and transportation maps, visit ShowManagement.com or call [phone] or [phone]. Follow the Palm Beach International Boat Show on Twitter at twitter.com/boatshowupdates, tune into Boat Show TV at youtube.com/showmanagement, and like the show on Facebook at facebook.com/PalmBeachInternationalBoatShow.