FIRST PHUKET BOAT SHOW GATHERS STEAM

With over sixty percent of the show booked and paid up, and a further twenty-five percent or so provisionally reserved for companies showing serious interest, Phuket’s first international boat show (PIMEX) has captured the imagination of the regional industry. “Bookings have been coming in fast during the past month,” said Andy Dowden of organizers Image Asia.

Dowden added that confirmed bookings represent 48 companies from throughout Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, the Asian region, Europe, UK and North America. Australia will be at the show in strength, he said, with 12 Australian companies confirmed to date.

“Eighty percent of the bookings are from the marine industry with everyone from marinas to boat designers, builders and brokers on to electronics, rope, winches, sealants and more,” he said. “The remaining twenty percent are property and lifestyle exhibitors who will bring to the show a flavour of Phuket’s lifestyle off the water. This is the proportion of non-marine exhibitors that we aimed for from the beginning.”

“There’s little doubt that the Iraq war and the SARS scare inhibited early bookings,” said Image Asia managing director, Grenville Fordham, adding, “but once they were out of the way, the momentum picked up, helped – we believe – by the speed with which the Thai government is tackling the issues facing Thailand’s marine industry.”

Fordham cited recent statements by customs and tourism chiefs, as well as Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, that import taxes on boats would be cut to zero and regulations affecting leisure boating would be eased. “We anticipate some significant government announcements prior to the boat show, or during the show itself,” he said, adding, “If what we expect to happen becomes reality, Phuket’s marine industry is in for a massive boost.”

For more information please contact Grenville Fordham   Email: