Yachting enthusiasts and wealthy lifestyle-seekers from around the region lined up at the fourth Thailand Yacht Show and Rendezvous last month in Phuket. The event provided a perfect platform for the best of Thailand’s yachting and luxury hospitality industries, cementing Thailand as a world-class holiday destination.
Boasting a lineup of over 100 brands and more than 50 yachts on display, the Royal Phuket Marina opened to the public from 10-13 January. Held annually in Phuket on the shores of Phang Nga Bay, the Thailand Yacht Show is unlike any other boat show, with visitors encouraged to get out on the water and experience the boating lifestyle in one of the world’s most beautiful yachting destinations. The organizers of the Thailand Yacht Show, Phuket Rendezvous and the Phuket Yacht Show have joined forces to provide a unique opportunity for nautical lifestyle seekers to meet some of the world’s leading yacht brands and brokers, charter agencies, luxury property developers as well as leading names in hospitality and food and beverage industries.
The show welcomed some of the biggest names in the industry, with Simpson Yacht Charter, Boat Lagoon Yachting and Lee Marine and yachting aficionados viewed the latest models from Beneteau, Ferretti, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Monte Carlo Yachts, Princess Yachts and Sanlorenzo.
Opening the proceedings, Mr Apichart Chirabandhu, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Sport,said: “The Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism & Sports are delighted to continue to support the Thailand Yacht Show, to show our commitment to create new opportunities that will boost Phuket’s and Thailand’s economies. By growing the marine tourism industry, we will attract quality visitors and high-end leisure tourists with significant purchasing power.”
Indeed, this is the high season—with Phuket heaving with activity and visitors from all over, the show featured both on-land and in-water displays, exhibitions, demonstrations and panel discussions. During the day, luxurious charter yachts were displayed for viewings before they lit up for dazzling parties once the sun went down.
Backed by the Royal Thai Government, the show invited a glittering array of major industry players, along with visitors from all over the world. Visitors enjoyed the latest watersport toys, gadgets and equipment with live displays at the show’s interactive Demonstration Platform in the marina and also joined in many of the activities along the Boardwalk and in the exhibition hall. Activities included sommelier wine tastings, elephant painting by Elephant Parade and photo workshops by Nikon, as well as a Classic Car display in Royal Phuket Marina’s iconic Town Square. The first of the Christofle Yacht Style Awards 2019, which recognizes the best of the yachting industry, took place during the event, with the second part being staged during the Singapore Yacht Show and Rendezvous in April 2019.
The Governor of Phuket, Phakaphong Tavipatana, commented “With the energy and enthusiasm of the organizers who work on this project throughout the year, and the appetite of our government and our people to welcome foreign yacht owners to our beautiful cruising waters, amazing landscapes, and world-renowned hospitality, we are confident that the annual Thailand Yacht Show will continue to help develop an extremely valuable high-end nautical tourism industry for Thailand.”
Andy Treadwell, CEO of show organizers, Verventia, continued: “This is a fantastic turnout of exhibitors, with almost 150 companies represented, justifying Thailand’s government’s continuing support for the show and the industry. Every major dealer in the region is present, with boats and yachts catering to every size, budget and taste. There is something for everyone at this year’s show, from stand-up paddle boards to sport-fishers, from small sailboats to super yachts, and everything in between.”
