KRI Songkhla Promotes Strengthening Maritime Tourism Cooperation of the IMT-GT Area at the 2026 Boat Festival

Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Songkhla Winardi H. Lucky (seventh from left) while attending the Thailand Boat Festival (Source: KRI Songkhla)

JAKARTA - The Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia (KRI) Songkhla participated in the Thailand Boat Festival 2026 which was held by the Thai Cruises Business Association (TCBA), with the support of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), at the Phuket Boat Lagoon Marina, Thailand.

The participation of KRI Songkhla in the activities held on January 15-18, 2026 was carried out as a representative of the Indonesian Government within the framework of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) cooperation.

Thailand Boat Festival 2026 is a strategic event for IMT-GT member countries to strengthen the synergy of sustainable yacht tourism and marina development.

On this occasion, the Indonesian delegation promoted Indonesia's potential as a flagship cruise tourism destination, supported by marine wealth, the strategic location of the shipping route, and the opportunity to develop marinas integrated with community-based tourism.

"Indonesia's participation in the Thailand Boat Festival reflects the commitment to strengthen cooperation in the IMT-GT region, especially in the marine tourism sector," said the Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Songkhla, Winardi H. Lucky in a written statement from KRI Songkhla, Thursday (22/1).

He added that the development of yacht and marina tourism requires cross-country collaboration and the involvement of various stakeholders.

"Synergy between the government, SOEs, business actors and local communities is the key to ensuring that the benefits of tourism can be felt sustainably," he said.

Through this forum, maritime tourism stakeholders in the region discussed opportunities to increase cruise connectivity as well as the development of competitive and inclusive marine tourism destinations.

The Indonesian delegation at the event included PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) and PT. MDI (Marina Development Indonesia), which also presented a presentation at a panel discussion session on the development of Yacht & Marina Tourism in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the panel discussion session was attended by representatives from the Center for IMT-GT, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture of Malaysia, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Thai Cruises Business Association, and other related agencies.

The discussion highlighted common challenges, including limited homeport capacity and the need for increased support facilities in IMT-GT member countries.

In addition to the main session, the Indonesian delegation attended a Morning Talk Session related to the achievements of the Visit IMT-GT 2023-2025, as well as site visits to destinations for community-based tourism (CBT) wellness tourism in Phuket.

These programs are considered relevant to be adapted in Indonesia according to the natural character and local potential.