The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) supported the four-day festival, held at Phuket Boat Lagoon from Jan 15-18, positioning the event as a strategic platform to strengthen international tourism cooperation under the Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) framework.
Nat Kruthasoot, TAT Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, attended the festival to meet partners and tour the exhibition, reports the Bangkok Post.
The event aimed to drive Thailand’s marine tourism sector towards becoming a regional tourism hub by connecting public and private stakeholders across yacht tourism, marinas, charter services and related industries. It also sought to expand high-potential niche markets by showcasing world-class tourism products and services, including shore excursions, destinations and supporting services tailored to high-value travellers.
As part of the programme, TAT brought together tourism authorities under the IMT-GT framework and the Centre for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (CIMT) to promote seamless cross-border marine tourism connectivity throughout the Andaman subregion.
Panel discussions focused on policy alignment, business cooperation and long-term planning. On Jan 16, the session “Unlocking Thailand’s Potential as a Leading Marine Tourism Destination in Southeast Asia” featured senior representatives from government and industry discussing workforce readiness, tourism standards and integrated cross-border connectivity.
Speakers included Wajanan Silpawornwiwat, Executive Director of TAT’s Southern Region Department; Siwaphon Thamwapi, representing the Department of Tourism; and Wattana Choksuvanich, Chairperson of the Thai Cruises Business Association.
Ms Wajanan said Thailand’s Andaman coast was ready to emerge as a regional marine tourism hub under IMT-GT cooperation, with Phuket, Krabi and Satun serving as strategic gateways linking cruise, yacht and ferry travel with Indonesia and Malaysia. She emphasised the importance of skilled personnel, high-quality tourism products and ensuring tangible benefits for local communities and the environment.
Ms Siwaphon noted that the Department of Tourism was working with partners to strengthen Thailand’s marine tourism ecosystem through improved standards, workforce development and quality assurance, aligning regulations with international best practices to support seamless regional travel.
Mr Wattana said the festival demonstrated effective public-private collaboration, adding that Phuket, supported by gateways in Krabi and Satun, was well positioned to offer world-class yacht experiences linking with Langkawi, Penang and Sabang under the IMT-GT framework.
Regional perspectives were further highlighted during the Jan 17 panel “IMT-GT as a Dream Destination for Quality Yacht Experience”, which examined readiness and opportunities to position the subregion as a premium marine tourism destination. Speakers included Amri Bukhairi Bakhtiar, Director of CIMT; Saut F. Siagian, SVP Marketing and Business Development at PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo); Mohd Ashrul Ashraf Mohd Noor, Deputy Director at Tourism Malaysia; and Rungtip Bookkhuntod, Director of TAT’s Secretariat and International Relations Division.
TAT said it was confident that leveraging the Thailand Boat Festival 2026 as a collaborative platform would reinforce Thailand’s role as a regional marine tourism hub while driving sustainable and competitive growth across the IMT-GT subregion.