Reported by the Whitsunday Times
SUPERYACHTS, owned by the world’s rich and famous multi-billionaires, have the potential to bring in at least $50,000 a week to a region’s economy, yet Australia and the Whitsundays is not even on the industry’s radar.
Charmaine du Plessis, who is the charter manager for one of the world’s leading superyacht companies, Burgess, says the reasons for that are taxation rules and restrictions placed on yachts over 35 metres in length.
Last week, Ms du Plessis travelled to the Whitsundays from Miami, USA, to meet with Abell Point Marina owner Paul Darrouzet.
Mr Darrouzet is extremely keen to see a superyacht industry established in the Whitsundays and Ms du Plessis says she has clients who it would certainly suit.
Mr Darrouzet invited representatives from all three tiers of government along, to hear firsthand from Ms du Plessis about how the region was missing out.
