Increasing number of Italians choosing to rent a boat

The desire to go to sea in Italy is growing. This is recorded by Samboat, a company founded in 2014, based in Bordeaux, specialising in boat rentals, with or without skipper, for private individuals. The platform connects boat owners with renters in 76 countries, offering a fleet of over 50,000 boats, including sails, catamarans, powerboats and motor yachts.

Italy, explains Nicolas Cargou, co-founder and CEO of the company, 'recorded +20% growth on Samboat last year, confirming the strong market momentum on both the supply and demand sides. It is a strongly domestic market, with over 80% of bookings made by Italians themselves, often loyal to familiar cruising areas such as Sardinia, Sicily, Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Ports such as Porto Rotondo, Castellammare del Golfo and Palermo top the list of summer bookings, also considering September 2025'.

Among Italians travelling abroad, 'the favourite destinations this year,' Cargou continues, 'include Greece, Croatia, Spain and France. Overall, the top three in Europe, in terms of volume, from June to September 2025, are France, Spain and Italy, a trio that leads the season on the platform. After the Italians, the nationalities most present in Italy, via Samboat, are French and German'. A recent study by the French company also found that the average age of charterers in Italy is 45, with a tendency towards group outings, generally consisting of four people per boat.

Looking ahead, Cargou points out that 'we are seeing a growing interest in more immersive and exotic experiences. Thailand, for example, is gaining ground as a long-haul destination for travellers seeking a deeper connection with nature and local culture. At the same time, Dubai is emerging as a popular destination for quick, luxurious and memorable getaways. The Caribbean also continues to be a popular destination for cruises, especially in winter. Ultimately, our role is to connect both sides of the market: to take travellers where the ships are, but more importantly, where they dream of a unique experience. This is where we will continue to invest: in aligning our offer with the evolving expectations of travellers."

Samboat managed 'almost EUR 60 million in volume in 2024,' says the CEO, 'registering a slight increase over the previous year. And we managed to increase our margins, thanks to better monetisation, value-added offers and optimised distribution. Our goal is to surpass EUR 100 million in online volume and to quickly exceed EUR 10 million in turnover in the next two years. We have laid the foundation and the acceleration is underway. The company's main markets today include France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US. 'These countries,' Cargou concludes, 'represent our main target and we have created local teams to manage them as best we can.