The Thailand International Boat Show – A Luxury Lifestyle Event 2025 (TIBS 2025), with a central focus on yachting, amid other quality products and services, set for Phuket Yacht Haven marina from next week – January 9-12, 2025 – is preceded by the annual Thailand Yachting Conference and a sophisticated gala dinner event.

The well-attended 2024 Thailand Yachting Conference, like this year’s edition, discussed both domestic and global topical matters. Photos: TIBS

While the show itself opens on Thursday January 9, Wednesday January 8 is attracting attendees to join its all-day conference, featuring an international roster of speakers, which on the same evening is then followed by the annual TIBS Gala Dinner.

The Thailand Yachting Conference agenda, once again, presents both domestic and global topical seminars and debate with a series of both individual presentations and panel discussions. Domestic-related topics include those on skills and education in Thailand’s boating industry; safety standards and best practices and the latest government regulations and changes. Those with more universal themes include updates and opinions on environmental concerns, antifouling and cleaning, and the growing superyacht market.

After a breakfast and networking hour, opening remarks for the conference are conducted from 9am by David Hayes, CEO of Jand Events, which organises TIBS, together with emcee for the conference, Joshua O’Neill, Executive Director of Zoom In Consulting.  

The first of two Thai government sessions then begins, led by representative of the official Department of Skill Development. Somyos Sanyaviree, Technical Instructor, at Phuket Technical College, who discusses how to access funding for workforce training; and how upskilling can keep a business competitive and future-ready.

Then, two representatives of the Marine Department – Tantai Wongsaeree, Harbour Master at Professional Level and Anawat Rungsaiwattana, Harbour Master at Practitioner Level, take on a few topics. These include upcoming regulatory checks, a recap of current and recently implemented rules and regulations and they deliver additional Thailand-wide marine industry insights.

The panel discussion “Environmental Responsibility and Sustainability” follows, with Dr Chantinee Boonchai, Assistant Professor and Lecturer at Prince of Songkhla University and a member of the Andaman Environment and Natural Disaster Research and Innovation team; Kanokwan Homcha-aim Cluster Naturalist, Anantara Layan Phuket Resort and Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas; and Assistant Professor Wan Chantavilasvong, founding Director, Nature and City Scape Analytics. They discuss the environmental impact of the marine industry, preserving the marine wilderness – and put forward thoughts on the theme of Liveable City, Liveable Ocean.

After a lunch break, the afternoon starts with another panel deliberation, on Innovative Publicity and PR in Yachting. Its sub-topics include Digital Innovation and Its Role in Transforming Yacht Tourism; and Working with Thai Influencers and Multilingual Campaigns. The panel comprises Trewut Anurakpandit, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Yacht Me Thailand; Jeannette Teo, Regional Marketing Manager (SEA) Simpson Marine; and Paul Poole Managing Director, Paul Poole (SEA) independent marketing consultancy.

After a presentation on the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle as a Yacht Experience for Sustainable Destination Branding, it’s onto the next presentation on the state of the Superyacht Industry in the Asia-Pacific, with perspectives from Suzy Rayment – Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association and Lies Sol – Charter Broker and Manager, Northrop & Johnson, Thailand. 

The last presentation is titled Industry Diversity and Crew Welfare. With a significant amount of focus on women in the industry, this panel comprises Shemaine Sebastien, Admission and Operations Manager/Chief Instructor, Health and Safety at Galileo Maritime Academy; Georgia Allen, Projects and Relationships Manager at ISWAN; and Lies Sol (as described in the previous discussion).

The TIBS Gala Dinner evening, the day before the show starts, is always popular, as seen in the images above and below from the 2024 edition. Photos: TIBS

As the Conference draws to a close and the excitement builds for the following day’s boat show launch, attendees at the Gala Dinner enjoy welcome drinks and canapes from 7.30pm, followed by a four-course dinner from 8.30pm.

The dinner is accompanied by a live entertainment roster of strolling table-side musicians, a close-up magician, and a nine-piece band playing on stage.

A variety of drinks are free-flow for three hours from the start of dinnertime, and a DJ keeps the party vibe alive till 1am.

For further details and ticket bookings for the Thailand International Boat Show – A Luxury Lifestyle Event, the Thailand Yachting Conference, and the Gala Dinner email:  info@thailandinternationalboatshow.com or call: +66 76600225.

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