The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) supported the Thailand Boat Festival 2026, held from January 15 to January 18 at Phuket Boat Lagoon, as part of efforts to strengthen regional marine tourism cooperation and cross-border connectivity under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) framework.
The festival brought together public and private sector stakeholders from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, including tourism authorities, marina operators, yacht and cruise service providers, and related businesses. The event served as a platform to discuss marine tourism development, workforce readiness and service standards across the subregion.
TAT also convened representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Centre for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle to promote cooperation and highlight connectivity between key marine destinations along Thailand’s Andaman coast and neighbouring countries.
Discussions during the festival focused on strengthening links across yacht tourism, marinas, charter services and supporting sectors, with an emphasis on coordinated development and cross-border travel. Panel sessions examined Thailand’s preparedness in marine tourism, including product development, skills training and regulatory alignment.
A separate panel held on January 17 explored opportunities to position the IMT-GT region as a connected destination for yacht tourism. Speakers from regional tourism and port authorities shared perspectives on infrastructure readiness, market potential and collaboration across the three countries.
The Thailand Boat Festival 2026 formed part of broader efforts to support regional tourism cooperation and encourage coordinated marine tourism growth within the IMT-GT subregion.
“Our focus is on developing skilled personnel, elevating high-quality tourism products, and ensuring that marine tourism growth delivers real benefits to local communities and the environment,” commented Wajanan Silpawornwiwat, executive director of the Southern Region Department of TAT.
Wattana Choksuwanich, chairperson of the Thai Cruises Business Association added: “Thailand Boat Festival 2026 demonstrates how public and private sectors can move forward together to build a truly connected marine tourism network. With Phuket as the primary hub and Krabi and Satun as key gateways, Thailand is ready to offer world-class yacht experiences that link smoothly with Langkawi, Penang and Sabang, creating a new generation of cross-border yacht journeys under the IMT-GT framework.”
