PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – The Providence Boat Show has drawn to a close with organizers reporting gate ticket sales declining 10-15 percent due to the credit crunch.

But some of the 220 exhibitors say the people who attended the four-day event were generally looking to buy boats or negotiate terms for getting a new vessel.

They say curious onlookers made up a smaller portion of the traffic at the boat show that ended Sunday.

Attendance may have also been down because the sail market did not turn up after organizers chose to focus family, cruising and fishing boats at the annual show.

Organizers say nearly 25,000 visitors attend the event from all over New England every year.

This year’s final attendance figures will be released after data from online ticket sales and tickets handed out by exhibitors is added to gate sales.

AP-ES-01-06-08 1906EST