Guangzhou Asia Water Leisure Sports Exhibition

The 2026 Asia Recreational Water Sports Expo (ARWSE) was successfully held from May 15 to 17 at the Guangzhou Canton Fair Complex. Co-hosted by the Guangdong Yacht Industry Association, the Guangdong Economic Investment Promotion Association, and other organizations, and organized by Guangdong Hongwei International Exhibition Group, this event is one of the few domestic trade shows dedicated to the entire water sports industry value chain. Driven by both consumption upgrading and the recovery of outdoor tourism, the expo adopted “Empowering Industrial Collaboration, Leading the New Leisure Economy” as its core theme. Concurrently, it was integrated with six specialized exhibitions—including the Asia Yacht Show, Diving Expo, and Pool & SPA Expo—creating a comprehensive, multi‑scenario industrial ecosystem encompassing yachts, water sports, cultural tourism, and technology.

Exhibition Space and Exhibitor Numbers Reach New Highs. With an exhibition area of 30,000 square meters, this edition attracted nearly 600 exhibiting brands, including world‑class international names such as YAMAHA, HONDA, SUZUKI, AZIMUT, BOMBARDIER, FERRETTI YACHTS, RIVA, JEANNEAU, and PRESTIGE, as well as leading domestic companies like Feichi Yachts, O’Neill Yachts, CATL Motor Technology, Yidong Technology, and Yunzhou Intelligent Technology. Among them, the new‑energy propulsion and smart boat sectors emerged as key highlights, with numerous exhibitors showcasing electric boats, hydrogen‑fuel power systems, and intelligent navigation solutions.

International Participation Reaches Record Levels. Benefiting from China’s 72/144‑hour visa‑free transit policy, international participation saw a significant boost, drawing professional visitors from over 50 countries and regions worldwide. International buyers came from Russia, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, Japan, Australia, India, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Brazil, and more than 20 other nations and territories. Domestic attendees hailed from Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hainan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hunan, Hubei, Liaoning, and cities across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. Leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative, the expo also hosted complementary business‑matching events, providing robust support for domestic enterprises seeking overseas partnerships.

Diverse Highlights and Green & Smart Technologies Take Center Stage. This year’s expo comprehensively covered areas including boats, surfing and waterskiing, water sports, beach activities, aquatic entertainment, and rescue equipment. For the first time, it featured a green‑power zone integrating wind, solar, and energy storage, alongside an intelligent connectivity experience area, showcasing cutting‑edge technologies such as electric surfboards, smart fishing boats, IoT‑enabled systems, and AR/VR maritime simulators. Innovative products like intelligent control systems, AR/VR driving simulators, and digital navigation tools became focal points, vividly illustrating the clear trend toward electrification, intelligence, and sustainability in the recreational water sports sector.

A Rich Program of Industry Forums and In‑Depth Networking Events. During the exhibition, a series of specialized events were successfully held, including the China International Summit on New‑Energy Marine Vessel Development, the Yacht Design and Innovation Forum, and the International Brand CEO Summit. Over one hundred industry experts and senior corporate executives from both domestic and international markets gathered to engage in in‑depth discussions on pressing topics such as electrification, intelligent technologies, sustainable design, and global market strategies, providing forward‑looking guidance for the innovative development of the marine leisure sector.

Strong Response from Exhibitors and the Industry. Exhibitors widely reported a significant increase in the number of overseas buyers, with particularly robust purchasing interest from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe and North America. Several booths secured preliminary cooperation agreements and signed orders on-site, delivering results that exceeded expectations. Visitors gained firsthand insights into the latest vessel products and technologies through face‑to‑face interactions with company representatives, deepening their understanding of how concepts such as new‑energy vessels and autonomous navigation are being put into practice.