This year’s Thailand Boat Expo is being organised by M Vision, the SET-listed group behind the Thailand Mobile Expo, and will be held in north Phuket from November 14 – 19.
This show is not to be confused with the Thailand International Boat Show to be held at the Royal Phuket Marina between January 11 – 14 next year.
While it’s the first time the media production and IT technology firm will host this event at the north of the island, CEO Opas Cherdpunt hopes to benefit from the rebound in tourism on the island, allowing the organisation to diversify its revenue stream.
“We have received support from the local authorities in Phuket to attract more tourists.”
M Vision has earmarked 20 million baht to host the event, which will be held at The PlayYard, a centre for outdoor activities and camping, located in Mai Khao. The Thailand Boat Expo attracts boating and water sports enthusiasts from Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga.
Tourism officials believe Phuket has managed to successfully recover from the financial damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, the island is forecast to receive 14 million tourists, a 259% increase on the previous year.
(This forecast includes domestic as well as international tourists)
“This is a great opportunity to stay updated on the latest trends in products and services, as well as to network with businesses related to the industry. We’ll make this event like a festival.”
M Vision also has future plans for the event, with Opas saying he’d like to see it expanding on a scale equivalent to the French international boat event, which covers a radius of 50 kilometres. The current event in Thailand covers a 2-kilometre radius.
Meanwhile, Opas says that Yona Beach Club, billed as “the world’s first floating beach club”, will be stationed in front of the event, adding to the party atmosphere.
“We will have the expo on the beach and a party on the sea that will make the event more fun and engaging.”
SOURCE: Bangkok Post