TAT targets yachties in new Phuket strategy

PHUKET: Phuket’s world-class marinas and vibrant yachting community are key to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s new strategy to attract high-end tourists to the island.

TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni believes the infrastructure already in place in Phuket means the island has the potential to become a world-class center for marine tourism.

Phuket already has a number of marinas suitable for attracting high-end tourists, including Royal Phuket Marina, the Boat Lagoon, Ao Por and Yacht Haven.

With the continuing development of the island’s facilities, Mr Suraphon believes the island can compete with the best yachting destinations in the world.

“You can see that the TAT has already placed rather a lot of emphasis on the marine tourism market,” he said. “We’ve done public relations and taken part in tourism promotion events related to marinas in order to present information to tourists, investors and owners of leisure boats.”

The yachting market is growing rapidly, Mr Suraphon said.

“It’s increasingly popular with new groups of tourists. Previously it was popular with European and American tourists, but now it’s more and more popular with Asians,” he said.

Suthinee Poopaka, director of the Office of Industrial Economics in the Ministry of Industry, said the office was exploring the possibility of establishing an information center to support the yachting and yacht repair industry.

The new emphasis comes shortly after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave a speech urging the country’s tourism industry to target “quality” tourists, rather than simply aiming for numbers.

Abhisit said that although numbers of tourists were heading upwards, average “spend” per head was decreasing.

The PM described the tourism industry as “key” to Thailand’s economy, adding that it accounted for 7% of GDP last year.

— Kom Chad Luek