Superyachts Growing Interest in Asia-Pacific
Global charterers and superyacht Owners and Captains along with Charter companies have been shifting their focus from traditional cruising grounds in search of more exotic cruising destinations.“As the late September Mediterranean summer cruising season ends, increasingly some yachts that traditionally travel to the Caribbean for the winter are coming eastward to elongate the charter season and enjoy Asia Pacific’s warmth and beautiful islands”, reports Asia Pacific Superyachts (APS) co-founder, Captain Scott Walker.
“Many Owners and Captains are recognising the cruising season here is year-round and South East Asia countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Maldives and the Andaman Islands are particularly popular”, reports Captain Scott. Foreign-flagged yacht visitors are becoming seduced by the many attractions and happily surprised by the high-quality marinas and those interested in marinas in Southeast Asia will find more options now, reflecting the rising affluence of Asia.
“There are now world-class marinas and accommodation in nearly every cruising region”, reports Asia Pacific Superyachts (APS) co-founder, Gordon Fernandes. “There’s Phuket, providing hundreds of berths for everything from Superyachts to small cruisers. Six marinas currently offer over 1,200 plus berths according to the Thailand Yachting Business Association, marinas like the beautiful Ao Po Grand Marina right near Phang Nga Bay, containing 300 berths which are larger than usual with spacious 4.6m wide walkways along the docks, accommodating yachts of 100+ meters.”
“To the south Malaysia’s Langkawi Island is a popular winter destination as are the chain of facilities that run down the Malacca Straits to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and heading east into the vast Gulf of Thailand and the largest marina in SE Asia, Ocean Marina Jontiem in Pattaya”, Fernandes notes. “There’s news from the Maldives with the spectacular Crossroads Yacht Marina and from Sri Lanka, announcing plans for the island country’s first marina along with Indonesia’s plan to continue to develop Benoa Marina.”
The Ocean Marina Jomtien in the Gulf of Thailand has seen two phases of expansion, increasing the marina from 200 berths to 380 and then dredging the marina basin to accommodate superyachts and increasing the haul out capacity with the acquisition of a 75-ton Marine Travelift. With over 450 modern berths it is Southeast Asia’s largest marina.
The Seychelles is a tropical paradise boasting of a dedicated superyacht facility, the Eden Island Marina, developed in conjunction with the Eden Island luxury residential project. A virtually untouched archipelago.
Asia-Pacific is definitely becoming more viable as a yachting destination as facilities are improving throughout the area with new marinas, support services and a growing labour force along with undoubtedly one of Southeast Asia most important assets, the genuine warmth and gracious hospitality of the people of the island countries.