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Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show shines global
spotlight on Pattaya’s marine tourism treasures
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh
(back row, third from left), Pataraporn Sithivanich (front row, second from
left), Executive Director, Product Promotion Department, Tourism Authority
of Thailand; Supatra Angkawinijwong (front row, third from left), Deputy
Managing Director, Ocean Property, and Scott Finsten (back row, sixth from
left), Harbour Master, Ocean Marina Yacht Club, together with exhibitors.
The annual Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show is set to take
place at Ocean Marina Yacht Club 22–24 November 2013 for the second year,
with the aim to promote marine leisure tourism and deliver high end tourists
to Thailand’s number one beach resort destination, Pattaya.
At the recent press conference in Pattaya, guest of honor Deputy Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh, together with Pataraporn Sithivanich, Executive Director,
Product Promotion Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and Ocean
Property executives announced the highlights for the Show’s second year.
Pattaya is widely regarded as one of Asia’s favourite seaside resorts,
increasingly being referred to as the “Thai Riviera”. Catering to tourists
from all cultures and walks of life, Pattaya provides a safe, relaxing,
fun–filled stay with tropical beaches, world-class hotels, a wide variety of
local and international restaurants, as well as shopping centres and markets
featuring local OTOP handicrafts to global luxury labels. International
standard golf courses, top medical facilities and an established marine
infrastructure make Pattaya a leading holiday destination of choice for both
Thai and International visitors.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), almost nine million
tourists visit Pattaya each year, a mix of domestic and international, who
enjoy the coastal resort and the marine leisure tourism offerings that has
made Pattaya a household name around the world.
In line with the TAT’s strategy to grow high end tourism in Pattaya, and
working closely with the marine tourism sector on Thailand’s east coast,
organisers of the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show aim to showcase the region
as a leading marine tourism hub in South East Asia.
Supatra Angkawinijwong, Deputy Managing Director, Ocean Property commented,
“Pattaya is famous for its beaches, islands and marine tourism, and through
the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show we aim to promote the region and showcase
the marine leisure tourism industry to a global audience. Following a
successful first year, we expect to see the event grow even bigger this
year.
“The number of boats in the area continues to grow and while Ocean Marina
Yacht Club is already the largest marina in South East Asia, we have plans
to expand further. This, together with a growing marine infrastructure
around Pattaya, positions the region as a leading marine tourism hub in
South East Asia.”
Marine tourism is a large revenue generator for Pattaya, attracting high end
international tourists who come to enjoy the stunning marine landscape,
chartering yachts and using the marine services and marina facilities
provided by Ocean Marina Yacht Club.
The Gulf of Thailand opens up to the South China Sea giving easy access to
yachts from Hong Kong and further north, and south to the Indonesian
archipelago, Australia and New Zealand. Strategically positioned and with
the untouched waters of Cambodia and Vietnam on its doorstep, in addition to
the myriad of islands dotted off the coast, gives credence to Pattaya’s
claim as a leading marine tourism hub in South East Asia.
Pattaya, in addition to having a strong international tourism appeal, is
also popular with domestic tourists visiting from Bangkok and surrounds. And
this market continues to grow with a trend toward more Thai nationals
investing in the marine leisure tourism lifestyle.
“Yacht owners at Ocean Marina Yacht Club have always been majority
foreigners, approximately 80%. However, recently we have seen this
demographic change as more and more Thais buy into the marine leisure
lifestyle. We have seen the number of Thai yacht owners in the marina
increase from 20% to 38% within the last 12 months.”
An expanded in-water space at the 2013 Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show will
host a large display of luxury motor and sailing yachts, including models
from Princess and Simpson Marine, as well as gadgets and water toys for
those who already have everything.
Onshore will be a diverse display from the marine tourism and leisure and
lifestyle business sectors, from Thailand and overseas, including top
yachting brands as well as luxury real estate, Super Bikes, Super Cars,
marine accessories and much more. In total, there will be over 100
exhibitors and 2,600 sq.m. of exhibition area.
For visitors, of which approximately 3,000 are expected, there is a packed
program of onshore and on-water activities and entertainment planned,
including free sailing trials, free kayak trials, lucky draws, cocktail
parties, Dragon Boat Races and a marina-side beer garden and festival with
live band.
Bookings are now being taken for space at the 2013 Ocean
Marina Pattaya Boat Show. For more details contact Ms. Patcharaporn
Sirisapwong (Bangkok), email: [email protected], or Scott
Finsten (Pattaya), email: [email protected]
For more information:
website: www.oceanmarinaboatshow.com, facebook:
www.facebook.com/oceanmarinaboatshow
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Etihad Airways to screen live news and sport in-flight
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is
set to transform in-flight entertainment options with the introduction
of eight live television channels which will broadcast live news and
sport.
The new live channels are BBC World News, BBC Arabic, euronews and Sport
24, which are available from November 1. CNBC, Japan’s NHK World
Premium, and CNN, will be introduced during November; and Sky News
Arabia will follow in the coming months.
The highlight of the sports coverage are the final two races of the
Formula 1 season with the Formula 1 US Grand Prix on Sunday, November
17, and the Brazil Grand Prix on Sunday, November 24.
In addition to the Formula 1, passengers can also watch a wealth of live
top sporting action this November including the ATP World Tour Finals,
English Premier League and German Bundesliga matches, and Euroleague
Basketball.
The major sports coverage continues in 2014 and includes the Australian
Open, French Open and US Open tennis championships, the Winter Olympics,
the Masters from Augusta and Ryder Cup golf, and the FIFA World Cup from
Brazil.
Baumgartner added, “In-flight entertainment is a key part of the guest
travel experience and the introduction of the eight live channels, from
brands such as Sky News Arabia, CNN and the BBC, as well as top global
action on Sport 24, will be a fantastic addition to Etihad Airways’
flights.”
All eight news and sport channels will be available on 21 Etihad Airways
wide body aircraft by November 7, which will increase to 37 wide body
aircraft by the end of 2014.
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