CHANYO MANAKULSAWASD

Country Manager at V Yachts Asia

Please tell us a little about your background & how you became involved in the yachting industry.

I started my career as engineer at Caterpillar, having the opportunity to introduce Caterpillar to the Thai yachting market. I later joined MTU, taking the company into the commercial engine supply business. Next, I took a break from yachting, and worked as Thailand Country Manager for Emerson, a manufacturer of industrial products before he returning to my passion, yachting. I was Operations Director of Azimut Yachts Thailand, before taking on my role as Country Manager for V Yachts Asia.

Please tell us about the scope of your company’s activities and thebrands that you represent.

V Yachts Asia was established in 2021 as the exclusive dealer for Ferretti, Pershing and Riva Yachts in Thailand. We are ideally suited in a great location in mainland Southeast Asia, with the west coast featuring the beauty of the Andaman Sea and the east coast the glory of the Gulf of Thailand.

Now that the pandemic is over, how does the future look the yachting industry in Thailand?

We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the high demand for ultra -luxury yachts, supported both by expatriates and Thais, who still rely heavily on imported yachts. The Thai government is now open to developing the yachting industry in order to attract more high-end tourism to the country.

Why do you think Thailand is such a great yachting destination?

Thailand is Asia’s best leisure marine destination, the combination of our location and tropical climate makes Thailand ideal for pleasure yachting. We also have high-end yachting facilities, valuable skilled labor, and an awareness of how important and profitable the yachting industry can be. With its warm hospitality, and extraordinarily beautiful boating, I believe that Thailand is the place where more and more yacht owners will come to enjoy their yachts and the lifestyle Thailand has to offer.

Are more Thais getting involved in the yachting industry?

You can now find more and more high-end luxury yachts in Thailand. This can be attributed to change in lifestyle fueled by the growth of high net-worth individuals, an increased interest in the leisure marine industry, and a surge in yacht tourism.

What is special about Thailand’s yachting infrastructure?

Thailand has a developed yachting industry, which includes five major marinas with more coming in 2023. There are also more than 20 yacht charter operators, 30,000 licensed captains and crew members and more than 800 permanently berthed yachts. The country’s yachting facilities are concentrated along the coast in southern Thailand. Important areas on Thailand’s Andaman coast include Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi provinces. The Gulf of Thailand offers the popular resort destinations of Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, as well as coastal destinations such as Pattaya.

Overall, Thailand has more berths than Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia combined. The cost of rental, maintenance and services is also lower in Thailand.

MAINTENANCE AND MARINAS

Photo by Simpson