Asia Pacific Superyachts at Thailand Yacht Forum

Asia Pacific Superyachts co-founder Gordon Fernandes participated in the January 11, 2019 Thailand Yachting Forum Panel Dialogue, “Highlighting Strategies for Attracting Yachts and Improving Safety at Sea” held at the Royal Phuket Marina in Phuket.

Also attending the event was Tanyuta Singhmanee (Jojo), a co-founder with Gordon Fernandes of Asia Pacific Superyachts and a member of the Thailand Yachting Business Association (TYBA). The association’s president, Mr. Mathew Na Nagara, was also a Panelist at the Forum.

New information and government changes and their effect on yachting and superyachting in the Asia Pacific region were outlined and discussed.

Ms Kanchana Suwanicho from the Customs department updated delegates with the rules for the temporary stay for yachts as well as outlining a plan for bareboats, so they will not have the need for a Thai registered captain and engineer to be on board. The current rules are being reviewed as they were bought in before Thailand became a crucial part of the Sunsail and Moorings fleet. She also reinforced the government stance that Thailand wants to continue being the ‘Yachting Hub for Asia’.

Ms Junyarung Kongchoo from the Revenue Department had the most promising news. She said her department now recognises how visiting Superyachts benefit the local economy; both with the spending power of the HNWI individuals who own them and understanding that the crews also have a major amount of spending power.

The Revenue department is actively working towards a resolution, one that has been the stumbling block to the Superyacht Charter License. Once this stumbling block has been removed foreign flagged yachts over 30M’s will be allowed to legally charter in Thailand. This will be a major boom to the Superyacht industry both in Phuket and for the region.

Reviewing his experience, Gordon Fernandes explained, “Participating in the give and take of this important Forum gave us the opportunity to share and help facilitate needs as well as share new information with our yachting clients, providing answers to owners and captains directly about Phuket and Thailand superyachting. It was also exciting to meet up with many of our colleagues and clients and others keen on finding out about the best inside information for cruising Thailand and the Asia Pacific regions”.

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