Asia’s largest marine event for experiencing yachts

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Team

The “2014 Taiwan International Boat Show” is Asia’s largest, featuring the most exhibited vessels and a total exhibition value of up to NT$5 billion. It is an international professional yacht exhibition showcasing several state-of-the-art yachts that combine the pinnacle of maritime craftsmanship aesthetics and energy-saving efficiency, drawing attention from many international yacht buyers. Countries around the world have high hopes for Taiwan hosting its first-ever boat show.

The largest yacht on display at the boat show is the “RP110,” built by the Chi Hsin Group — the world’s fifth-largest custom luxury yacht manufacturer and also the newly announced winner of Taiwan Excellence’s Gold Award. With a spacious leisure and entertainment area spanning 135 pyeong, it offers yacht owners a top-tier floating villa experience.Kha Shing Yachts showcased their latest model, the “Monte Fino CAT 45 Sports Fish,” tailor-made for fishing enthusiasts. Its spacious cabin and leisure areas are perfect for groups of friends to enjoy deep-sea fishing together. Also on display was the first hybrid-electric yacht built in Taiwan — the “uGreen 45 Hybrid” by Nan Hai Yachts. Other participating exhibitors such as Ya Gang, Superstar, Long Yang, Johnson, and Tong Yi expressed great excitement about hosting Taiwan’s own international yacht show in their home country, nearly six decades after Taiwan’s yachts gained global fame. They hope this exhibition will further elevate the international profile

Aside from strong support from Taiwanese yacht manufacturers, the inaugural exhibition also attracted enthusiastic participation from numerous foreign yacht, related parts, and equipment makers. These include Germany’s Hanse and Sweden’s Delta, as well as 36 component suppliers from countries such as Australia, the United States, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Indonesia—among which Australia, the United States, and Mainland China participated as national pavilions. The chairman of the Australian Maritime Export Group (AIMEX), the organizing entity behind the Australian Pavilion, noted that Australian component suppliers highly value Taiwan’s strong capabilities in building large yachts. They are also optimistic that Taiwan’s first-ever yacht show will draw many Asian buyers to visit the island. As a result, Australia assembled a delegation of 15 companies to exhibit. This also signals Taiwan’s transition from a yacht manufacturing hub to a yacht marketing base.

Attracting 30,000 domestic and international potential buyers, industry professionals, and members of the public

The yacht show will welcome back MIT (Made in Taiwan) yacht owners from around the world, while also attracting international dignitaries interested in Taiwan’s yachts to experience firsthand the refined craftsmanship of locally built vessels. Currently, nearly 1,000 international guests have registered or been officially invited online to attend. One of the key advantages of hosting the exhibition within an industrial cluster is the convenience it offers buyers to drive to nearby shipyards—about a 30-minute drive away—for visits alongside the exhibition, helping to shorten the decision-making process for placing orders.

Taiwan’s yacht parts and equipment manufacturers have also drawn attention from internationally renowned shipyards, such as Sea Ray Boats under the Brunswick Group (the world’s largest yacht manufacturing conglomerate), the prominent American speedboat manufacturer Malibu, the French luxury yacht group Beneteau Group, and the long-established Spanish shipyard Rodman Polyship—all of which have sent senior procurement executives to Taiwan for purchasing.

In addition to overseas dignitaries visiting Taiwan, the yacht show has also attracted advance bookings from nearly 500 senior executives of well-known domestic companies. Furthermore, through the nationwide network of 7-Eleven ibon kiosks, over 10,000 tickets were sold before the event. It is expected that the four-day exhibition will draw approximately 30,000 visitors from both Taiwan and abroad.

13 Exhibition Side Events Creating Taiwan’s Most Spectacular Marine Event

To help visitors gain deeper insights into Taiwan’s yacht industry and marine knowledge,The organizers have arranged a variety of engaging side events, including the “Marine Academy” to expand ocean literacy, the “Maritime Generations Forum” to explore sailing culture, and the “Yacht Industry Forum & Symposium” providing global marine perspectives—13 diverse activities in total. These offerings aim to provide visitors with new perspectives on the ocean, as well as help establish and develop a uniquely Taiwanese maritime consciousness and water-oriented culture.

In the past, Taiwanese yacht makers used to send their luxury yachts abroad to participate in international shows. This time, Taiwan’s top-tier locally built yachts are all on display, along with active participation from many renowned foreign companies. Now, without leaving the country, visitors can enjoy a world-class yacht exhibition. Aside from purchasing tickets for entry, viewing the boats from the sea presents another creative option, offering a unique vantage point to admire the sleek, elegant, and exquisitely designed luxury yachts. Mr. Chuang Ming-Liao, a director of the Taiwan Yacht Industry Association, emphasized that:The Taiwan International Yacht Show is one of only three major indoor exhibitions for luxury yachts in the world, alongside the Düsseldorf Boat Show in Germany and the Genoa Boat Show in Italy. The scale of setup required is truly remarkable, making it a must-visit event for the public.

The Ocean Affairs Council stated that several harbor cruise operators have currently plannedsea routes for yacht show viewing,with details available by contacting the respective cruise operators: Kaohsiung Ferry Co., Ltd. (07)216-0668 ext. 602-610, Kaohsiung City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau (07)228-8849, Chan-An Ferry Co., Ltd. (07)533-7349, Maritime Legend Co. (07)551-1800, Love Boat Recreational Fishing Boat (07)531-0101, Haipeng No. 2 Recreational Fishing Boat 0929-547897.