on 13 Jan 2021
New quarantine restrictions have put brakes on the sixth edition of leading in-water show
The Thailand Yacht Show has been postponed from its scheduled dates of February 11-14, 2021.
The news comes following a fresh outbreak of Covid-19 infections in Thailand, and the latest announcement of restrictions on domestic travel. As of January 12, visitors to Phuket from Bangkok and other key regions must observe a 14-day quarantine on arrival.
In a statement, Andy Treadwell, CEO of event organiser Verventia, confirms that the sixth edition of the annual show has been postponed until “later in the year”, without mentioning specific dates.
The annual event, which takes place at Royal Phuket Marina, is the region’s leading in-water show. It was originally scheduled to take place January 10-13, 2021, and was previously postponed by Covid in December.
“We have discussed the options with our principal stakeholders, and all agree that we have no choice in the matter,” Treadwell continues. “With only six weeks to go to show opening, and travel restrictions seeming likely to become more widely enforced over the next few weeks, it would simply be irresponsible to continue with plans to stage the show over the Chinese New Year period next month, even if we’re allowed. Despite the financial hardships this will cause for our suppliers and indirectly for our exhibitors, as well as for ourselves, we are in full agreement with the government’s safety measures, and we will just have to wait for the situation to ease.
“Our efforts to promote Thailand as Asia’s principal yachting hub and the new destination-in-waiting for ultra-high-spending global superyacht tourists, for which the government-initiated Thailand Yacht Show is the main annual marketing platform, will also be rewarded in the end. Just last week, we had a meeting with the Thai Customs Department, who are now fully behind the project to allow foreign-flagged superyachts to charter in Thai waters.
“Once the remaining tax issues are resolved (soon now we hope!), more and more of them will want to come, stay the whole season, and spend their money here. This will be fantastic, not just for the superyacht agents, charter brokers, marina owners and all the service suppliers, but for the whole of the industry – the ‘trickle-down’ effect to all sectors of the leisure boating and hospitality industries will exponentially increase the positive economic impact.”