TAT positions Thailand as a regional marine tourism hub through IMT-GT Cooperation at the Thailand Boat Festival 2026 Phuket.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) supported the Thailand Boat Festival 2026, held last week at Phuket Boat Lagoon, Phuket, with Mr Nat Kruthasoot, deputy governor for Tourism Products and Business, attending the event to meet partners and visit the exhibition. The festival served as a strategic platform to drive Thailand’s marine tourism development towards becoming a regional tourism hub and to strengthen international tourism cooperation under the IMT-GT framework, connecting public and private sectors and tourism operators across the region.
The festival aimed to expand high-potential niche markets by showcasing world-class tourism products and services, including shore excursions, destinations, tourism products & services, and supporting services, delivering high-value travel experiences for quality travelers.
On this occasion, TAT brought together tourism authorities under the Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) framework, comprising of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Centre for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (CIMT), to promote cross-border marine tourism cooperation and highlight seamless connectivity across the subregion.
The festival serves as a key platform to drive regional marine tourism cooperation, linking operators across yacht tourism, marinas, charter services, and related sectors from Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia to exchange ideas and jointly define a systematic roadmap for regional marine tourism development.
Ms Wajanan Silpawornwiwat,executive director of the Southern Region Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said Thailand’s Andaman coast is ready to step forward as a regional marine tourism hub under the IMT-GT cooperation framework. Phuket, Krabi, and Satun are not only beautiful destinations, but also strategic gateways that allow us to connect cruise, yacht, and ferry travel seamlessly with Indonesia and Malaysia.
“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.”
Ms Siwaphon Thamwapi, representative from the Department of Tourism (DOT) added the department is working closely with all partners to strengthen Thailand’s marine tourism ecosystem through standards, workforce development, and quality assurance. By aligning our regulations and training systems with international best practices, we are ensuring that Thailand is fully prepared to welcome high-value marine tourists, while supporting seamless cross-border travel within the IMT-GT region.
Mr Wattana Choksuvanich, chairperson of the Thai Cruises Business Association. stated that 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.
Regional partners also shared their vision and opportunities during the panel. TAT is confident that leveraging the Thailand Boat Festival 2026 as a collaborative platform will reinforce Thailand’s role as the regional marine tourism center and drive sustainable, competitive growth for the IMT-GT subregion.
