Entertainment on the final day of the show

As the sun dipped below the horizon at Phuket Yacht Haven Marina, music floated through the evening air, mingling with the sound of waves and laughter from the crowd. This set the perfect scene for the farewell party of the Thailand International Boat Show A Luxury Lifestyle Event, held from January 9-12, 2025.

Packed with sleek superyachts, lively entertainment and hands-on experiences, the event attracted over 50 nationalities and was larger in size compared to 2024, solidifying its Phuket as Asia’s top yachting destination.

Inaugurated by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, this year’s show saw a record-breaking fleet of vessels and exhibitors from across the region.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra

Whether visitors came to explore the latest luxury yachts, enjoy the marine lifestyle at Phuket Yacht Haven marina, or learn more about sustainability in the yachting world, the show offered something for everyone.

Show Highlights and Maritime Excellence: A Festival of Yachting and Lifestyle

Over four sun-soaked days, Phuket Yacht Haven Marina transformed into a vibrant hub for maritime enthusiasts and lifestyle seekers alike. Beyond the impressive yacht displays, the show offered unique entertainment options.

Garden For Food Wine Beer Drinks and Fun including Churchill Cigar Lounge, Carabao and Food Trucks (Burger, Pizza, Pasta, and Steak) became a buzzing social spot, drawing crowds eager to watch a skilled Thai cigar maker roll cigars by hand using local tobacco.

The show featured entertainment on and off the water

Saturday, January 11, was a family-friendly highlight featuring a special Children’s Day celebration. Young visitors took part in a variety of engaging activities with face painting, a clown and snacks like candy floss and popcorn.

Adding to the excitement, the day also featured the UWC Children Skiff Regatta, where young sailors showcased their skills and enthusiasm on the water, creating unforgettable memories for participants and spectators alike. In the evenings, live music performances created a relaxed yet lively atmosphere for sunset networking.

Meanwhile, VIP guests from Textron and Beechcraft enjoyed exclusive hospitality aboard the superyacht Lady Eileen II. Industry networking reached new heights at the Exhibitors and Captain’s Lounge, uniquely situated aboard the superyacht Free Bird.

Notable Exhibitor Success

With a strong lineup of premium brands, the exhibitor section was a major draw. Among the standout companies was Primus Marine, which exhibited Aquila’s 32 Sport and 44 Yacht power catamarans with four Beneteau models: the Antares 11 Fly, Gran Turismo 32 and Grand Trawler 62 motorboats, and the Oceanis 40.1 sailing yacht.

Primus Marine displayed six boats

“As a new dealer, we were happy that we were able to put on display six boats,” said Howard Prime, Director of Primus Marine. “Positioned at the end of the dock, overlooking the marina, many sailors appreciated seeing a sailboat brand represented and we have received the first enquiries for Excess catamarans, for which we’re the newly appointed dealers for Thailand.”

Northrop & Johnson Asia-Pacific turned heads with their presentation of the 36m SpaceCat powercat, which quickly became one of the show’s most talked-about vessels. Its sleek design and spacious layout appealed to potential charter clients. “We’ve already received several charter requests following the show,” said Lies Sol, Charter Manager at Northrop & Johnson.

Camper & Nicholsons exhibited the Horizon FD90 Tyee, the Fleming 85 was among other big yachts, while Simpson Marine displayed a Sanlorenzo SL90A and Bluegame’s BGX63 and BG42.

Northrop & Johnson exhibited the 36m SpaceCat

Among dealers for Italian brands, V Yachts Asia lined up a Ferretti Yachts 720 and 580 along with Riva’s 66’ Ribelle, while MGC Marine showed Azimut’s Fly 60 and Fly 53.

British brands also had a good presence. DCH Marine hosted Sunseeker’s Manhattan 68 and Manhattan 55, with Boat Lagoon Yachting exhibiting a Princess 75MY and F55, as well as a Cap Camarat 12.5 WA by French builder Jeanneau.

Asia Yachting showed a Prestige X60 and 420, an MCY 70 Skylounge and a Super Air Nautique GS22, while Asiamarine staged the Asia premiere of Capelli’s Stradivari 43 along with a Nimbus T9, Galeon 500 Fly and Lagoon 42 sailing catamaran. Other Asia debuts included Nerea’s NY24, hosted by MarineXplorer.

The four-day show featured over 50 yachts

Lee Marine displayed an Absolute 56 Fly and Riviera’s 4600 SY, Flow Yacht Club showed De Antonio’s D50 Coupe, Go Boating exhibited Gulf Craft’s Oryx 379, while Extreme Marine hosted three motorboats by Bahraini builder Al Dhaen.

Derani Yachts displayed Greenline’s 48 Fly, and Axopar’s 37 Cross Cabin and 29 Cross Cabin, while Motor Field exhibited a Saxdor 320 GTO, Regal LS4 and a Yot 36 powercat.

As well as the Yot 36, powercats included Leopard’s 53 PC and 46 PC, as well as the Cora Cat 48 and Fountaine Pajot MY4.S coupe shown by The Yacht Sales Co, which also showed Fountaine Pajot’s Elba 45 sail cat. A Sunreef 60 was the event’s largest sailing catamaran.

Thailand Yachting Conference: A Full Day of Insight and Collaboration

On January 8, a day before the official start of the boat show, the Thailand Yachting Conference attracted over 100 attendees including industry leaders, government officials, educators and yachting enthusiasts.

The conference was held a day ahead of the show

The event’s packed agenda featured expert-led sessions on everything from workforce development to regional tourism, and attendees praised its practical focus and valuable networking opportunities.

·       Workforce and Skills Development:

The morning began with presentations on Thailand’s marine workforce. Representatives from the Thai Skills Department and technical colleges outlined programmes designed to enhance local capabilities and access government support. “Upskilling is essential for maintaining a competitive edge in the yachting industry,” said Somyos Sanyaviree, who highlighted existing training collaborations with marine businesses.

·       Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility:

Environmental issues were front and centre during a series of presentations led by experts including Dr Chantinee Boonchai. The session provided practical solutions to reduce the industry’s ecological footprint, covering topics like eco-friendly maintenance and sustainable tourism practices.

Jeanette Teo, Simpson Marine’s Regional Marketing Manager

·       Marketing, Tourism, and Regional Integration:

The afternoon shifted to discussions on marketing strategies and regional tourism. Representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand highlighted emerging yacht tourism opportunities under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) initiative. A lively Q&A session followed, with attendees keen to learn how collaboration could benefit the region’s tourism and marine sectors.

·       Crew Welfare and Mental Health:

One of the standout sessions of the day was ISWAN spokesperson Georgia Allen’s presentation on crew welfare, which explored the challenges faced by yacht crews and how to better support their well-being. Representing ISWAN (the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network), Allen introduced the YachtCrewHelp programme, a global initiative providing 24/7 helpline support for yacht crew.

“Crew welfare is often overlooked, but happy, healthy crew are vital to a successful yachting experience,” Allen said. The presentation resonated with many attendees, who appreciated the practical resources shared.

Georgia Allen of ISWAN (International Seafarers’ Welfare & Assistance Network)

Attendee feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the event’s ability to deliver real-world insights. “The combination of expert local speakers and peer-to-peer learning made this conference incredibly valuable,” commented one participant during the networking session.

Looking Ahead: A Bright Future for Thailand’s Yachting Industry

With a record-breaking boat show and a highly successful conference, 2025 has already been a landmark year for Thailand’s yachting sector. The practical focus of the conference, combined with growing regional partnerships, showed that Thailand is well-positioned to lead the Asian yachting industry into the future.

“This isn’t just about putting on a show – it’s about creating a platform for real growth and collaboration,” said David Hayes, Chairman and CEO of JAND Group, the rights holder and owner of Thailand International Boat Show A Luxury Lifestyle Event.

A busy day at the Thailand International Boat Show A Luxury Lifestyle Event

As plans begin for next year’s event, there’s already excitement about what’s to come. With the groundwork laid for further regional integration, sustainable tourism and a continued focus on crew welfare, the future looks bright for Thailand’s yachting industry.

Final Thoughts

Whether it was the gleaming superyachts, the lively entertainment or the insightful sessions at the yachting conference, this year’s Thailand International Boat Show offered something for everyone. By combining luxury and lifestyle with real-world industry insights, the event successfully positioned Thailand as a leader in the Asian yachting scene.

With even bigger plans for the future, the Thailand International Boat Show A Luxury Lifestyle Event is well on its way to becoming a must-attend event on the global yachting calendar.

thailandinternationalboatshow.com