Pattaya To Become Marine Leisure Hub Of Asia

Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show official media launch.

Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show official media launch.

Organisers of the sixth Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show expect more than two billion baht (approx. US$60 million) of trade to be generated by the show while supporting the government’s policy to make Thailand the “Marina Hub of ASEAN” and showcasing the marine leisure credentials – onshore and off – of the Gulf of Thailand. To be held 23 – 26 November at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya, the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show is a key consumer boat show in the region, showcasing global boat brands and marine products to a Thai market with a growing appetite for the marine leisure lifestyle.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Pattaya welcomed approximately 8 million visitors in H1 2017 with spending up 15% on the same period in 2016, while Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Ranking placed Pattaya as the 20th in the world by number of visitors.

“Pattaya is showing strong growth in visitor arrivals and receipts and is central to the development of the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor. Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show has an important role to play in this, being the leading platform for marine businesses to promote their products and services to a domestic and international audience. Now in its sixth year, the consumer-focused show has earned a reputation as being a boat show for boat lovers, where people come to see and test the latest products in the industry, and has a track record of trade,” said Dr. Tirachai Pipitsupaphol, Managing Director, Ocean Property.

Top international yachting brands will exhibit alongside Thailand’s leading marine businesses with pleasure yachts and commercial vessels ranging from under 1 million baht to superyachts priced at more than 200 million baht. New and brokerage boats, charter services, Thai boat builders, and a wide range of marine products and services will be on display over the four days.

“Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show actively promotes the Gulf of Thailand with it’s spectacular cruising grounds and world-class onshore facilities, and generates a direct economic gain for the marine and tourism industries in Thailand’s East through trade at the show and business stimulated thereafter. This year we expect the show to exceed more than two billion baht in trade,” added Dr. Tirachai.

With the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) a national government priority, Ocean Marina Yacht Club have been actively working with government departments and authorities to promote and develop, the East Coast and Gulf of Thailand’s marine leisure facilities.

“Thailand’s East Coast has huge leisure potential. The natural marine assets are relatively untouched and following changes by the Customs Department last year we are receiving more inquiries from international pleasure boats and superyachts who wish to berth themselves in Pattaya and discover the Gulf of Thailand. We are also seeing more Thai people chartering boats for private vacations and more charter companies opening up in the Gulf region to cater to this market. In terms of day trips to nearby islands, this segment is growing rapidly – in H1 2017 18,000 people on average per month departed from Ocean Marina Yacht Club to the islands, up 60% year-on-year. All this bodes well for the local marine industry and provides a solid foundation for further growth of the marine leisure sector in the Gulf of Thailand,” said Mr. Scott Finsten, Harbour Master of Ocean Marina Yacht Club.

Kicking off the Asian boat show season, more than 6,000 people are expected to visit the 20,375 sqm of onshore and in-water exhibition space at the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show. A multi-billion baht line-up of boats and businesses will be showcasing everything from small day boats to superyachts, marine products and services, luxury cars and property, and all manner of marine gadgets and water toys. Highlights include experiential activities for visitors and in-water demonstrations from Seabreacher, Jetsurf and many more, as well as free daily yacht cruises.

Held from 23 – 26 November 2017 at Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Pattaya, Thailand, the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show is open daily from 11:00 – 19:00 (closing at 18:00 on Sunday) and entry is free to all.

A Boat Show For Boat Lovers

A Boat Show for Boat Lovers-ed

Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show has always focussed its efforts in two areas: 1) Ensuring a quality and diverse line-up of marine businesses showing their products and services, and 2) Attracting visitors with an interest in the product and the purchasing power.

“We believe it’s important our exhibitors get a return on their investment in the show. Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show first and foremost is a showcase of all things marine. Whether it’s gadgets and gizmos, the latest on-water toys, jetski, hobie cats, speedboats, commercial passenger crafts to luxury sail and power boats and superyachts, we cater to all marine products and services and we focus our visitor marketing on attracting the right kind of visitor so exhibitors will have a successful show,” commented Mr. Scott Finsten, Harbour Master of Ocean Marina Yacht Club.

Three months out and the in-water display is shaping up with leading international yacht brands and local dealerships, the most recent to sign-up being Azimut and Simpson Marine, already taking up many of the in-water berths.

Thailand itself has an established boat building industry renowned for innovation and quality, and Bangkok and the East Coast is the heart of that industry. Building on last year’s success which saw a number of local boat builders showcase their products for the first time and secure sales and orders at the show, there has been increased interest in this segment with Sakun C the latest Thai boat builder to confirm their attendance.

Onshore, chandlers, water toys, brokerages, boat maintenance and marine product suppliers will be displaying their wares, and are joined by a selection of the finest properties from the Eastern Seaboard and Bangkok and the Dot Property Pavilion which will be making its debut this year.

“With our close proximity and easy access to Bangkok, we will again see a large turnout of potential buyers from Bangkok, and through a series of co-promotions with luxury businesses and brands in the capital there will be more Thai High Net Worth Individuals hosted and visiting the show this year,” added Mr. Finsten.

“Timeless Beauty Of The Gulf Of Thailand”

Photo Trip-edAs part of our ongoing efforts to promote the marine scene in the Gulf of Thailand and the region’s natural beauty, we recently hosted a group of photographers and bloggers from Bangkok to enjoy an overnight stay at Ocean Marina Yacht Club and a day out exploring and photographing the nearby islands under the theme “Timeless Beauty of the Gulf of Thailand”.

More and more Thai people are enjoying the marine lifestyle and are appreciating their own national natural treasures. The Gulf of Thailand is home to 187 islands, many of them untouched and deserted and are the stereotypical idyllic tropical island.

Within an hour or so of Ocean Marina Yacht Club there are many spectacular islands and beaches, and some interesting rock formations which make for great a day out and quality snorkelling.

On the last weekend of August we hosted 12 Thai photographers and bloggers, introduced them to the area and the operations of Ocean Marina Yacht Club, and then took them out for a day of fun in the sun on our own MY Champagne. While it was a fun day out, the photographers and bloggers were also hard at work looking for the best angles and unique views that show off the area in the best light.

Keep an eye on our facebook page as we will be sharing some of the spectacular images they shot, soon.

 

Another Gong For Ocean Marina Yacht Club

Scott_Award-ed

Ocean Marina Yacht Club’s Harbour Master, Mr. Scott Finsten, was in Singapore recently to collect the marina’s latest accolade – “Best Yacht Club Destination in Thailand” – at the 2017 Asian Lifestyle Tourism Awards™.

“I’m very honoured to accept this award on behalf of everyone at Ocean Marina Yacht Club. We have invested heavilly in the marina in recent years, both in upgrades and expansion, and today we see these efforts paying off. Ocean Marina Yacht Club is the largest marina in South East Asia and with the popularity of boating in Thailand continuing to increase we will be adding a further 60 berths to the marina in the first half of 2018 to cater the growing number of boats that wish to base themselves at Ocean Marina Yacht Club,” commented Mr. Finsten.

The Asian Lifestyle Tourism Awards™ are an annual awards presentation dedicated to destinations throughout Asia which is owned and managed by Asia Leading Resorts Inc, Singapore.

Entrants are nominated for the Awards by the public with the final voting also by the public. There is no judging panel and the public voting is online whereby only one vote is permissible for each facebook/ email account.

This latest accolade follows two recent international awards for Ocean Marina Yacht Club’s annual regatta, the Top of the Gulf Regatta.