Super-yachts due for show
THE FIRST Thailand Yacht Show will feature some 15 super-yachts and 50 luxury craft at Ao Po Grand Marina, Phuket, as the government kicks off an initiative to build up quality leisure travel and jobs in this high-end sector.
The vision for Thai seaside resort destinations to become the world’s second luxury-yacht hub after the Mediterranean Sea was unveiled by Andy Treadwell, managing director of T3L Events and the organiser of the Yacht Show, together with Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.
The Thailand Yacht Show will take place from February 8-14.
Arkhom hopes to solve the remaining obstacles to the promotion of the sector over the next few months.
These involve immigration, tax and related regulations, as incoming yachts usually stay for a period of about three to six months involving multinational crews, charter incomes and related maintenance activities.
There are some 5,000 luxury-yacht owners around the world and each spend between US$1 million and $2 million (Bt36 million to Bt72 million) per season.
“If [only] we could attract 200 to come to Thailand in two or three years’ time,” said Treadwell, a British-born executive based in Singapore.
Kobkarn said the yacht-hub
plans included Phuket, Samui and Krabi. There will also be synergies with yacht races in Phuket and Samui under the sport-tourism development policy, but she underscored the need for the development to filter down to local employment and economies.
Ao Po Grand Marina, which will feature the first Thailand Yacht Show, can accommodate 80 yachts.
The show will have three of the world’s biggest super-yachts on display as well.
There will also be yachting innovations from yachting experts, plus famous yacht brands.
Thailand Yacht Show 2016 will also feature products and one-stop services to high-end customers ranging from yachting financial solutions, long-term leasing services, insurance services, on-board catering services, on-board yacht services by captains or yacht crews, after-sales services to technician services by well-trained and certified yachting experts.
Some 2,000 attendees are expected including yachting operators, yacht owners, shipyard operators, yacht-repair service providers, investors, and the general public.
To raise public awareness, there will be a series of warm-up events including water sports and activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, kayaking, and beach parties in several locations across Phuket from February 8-10.
The Nation and the Phuket Gazette are the media partners for the launch of this major international event.
The Cabinet earlier approved a Bt15-million budget to organise this first yacht event under the directive of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Arkhom said the Transport Ministry would talk with the Marine Department, the Customs Department, the Revenue Department and the Immigration Bureau to seek further measures to develop the yacht sector.
It recently announced the regulations and requirements for the new Super-yacht Charter Licence that will allow foreign-flagged super-yachts to stay and operate in Thai waters for up to a year.
So far, three super-yachts have been presented with the licences.
