Phuket boat show 7 to 10 Jan

BANGKOK The 13th Phuket International Boat Show, which will take place 7 to 10 January, next year, at Royal Phuket Marina in Phuket, will help to boost marine tourism.
Speaking at the event’s press conference, Tuesday, Tourism and Sports vice minister, Chavanee Tongroach, said the government is focusing on marine tourism to raise tourism quality and the boat show could contribute to that objective.
She said: “Visitors to Phuket continue to increase year-on-year and recently we have seen a change in the demographics with more than 50% of visitors to Phuket coming from Asian countries.”
Phuket’s strong leisure credentials are complemented by its facilities and growing appeal to business travellers. Around 60% of business travellers attending exhibitions in Thailand are from the Asian region.

inside no 2Phuket attracts around 6 million arrivals from international and domestic markets annually.
As an official supporter, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau president, Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, said Phuket is one of our designated MICE cities to help encourage event businesses and upscale travel.
The event is the premier regional marine and lifestyle showcase that aims to increase business opportunities for exhibitors.
The Show Organiser, Andrew Dowden, said the Phuket International Boat Show is Thailand’s largest boating and lifestyle show, and the longest-running show of its kind in Southeast Asia, attracting over 5,000 visitors each year from more than 30 countries.
“Since we launched the Phuket International Boat Show in 2003, Phuket’s marine industry has grown by more than 500% and today it is a THB10 billion-a-year industry. From just a few hundred boats, prior to 2003, Phuket now provides berths for more than 2,000 boats and more than 70 super yachts annually.”
The event has averaged a year-on-year growth of 11% and contributed THB6 billion to the marine supply industry in 2015 through sales and leads generated from the show, he added.
For 2016, organisers have increased available in-water space and expect to have more than THB3 billion worth of products on display in the marina and in the exhibition hall. Fifty international boat brands from super yachts to trailer boats, sail and power, will be on display together with over 150 businesses including luxury cars, properties, marine products and lifestyle products and services.
He added in line with the Thai government’s drive to encourage super yachts to charter in the country, we will be launching the first digital Phuket Charter Guide to be distributed to thousands of travel agents around the world.
“This will be a guide on how to sell charters in Phuket via travel agents and will prove to be an invaluable tool to help promote Phuket’s leisure, business and luxury lifestyle credentials.”
To encourage marine tourism, he suggested the government should relax regulations on visas, work permits for boat crews and foreign vessels travelling to the beach destination.

sourced:ttrweekly.com