Phuket, Thailand — Apparently recognizing the damage done to the Thai economy in a world competing aggressively to harbor yachts, Bangkok has rolled back the "six-months-and-go-home" rule against foreign-registered pleasure vessels, replacing it with a 12-month deadline for leaving the country. It is understood that in some cases boats will be allowed to stay even longer.

In a notice issued by the Customs Department and dated March 22, customs offices around Thailand were told that foreign vessels may now stay in the country for up to one year without their owners having to "import" the craft and pay the crushing taxes and duties that have kept neighboring Malaysian marinas full over the past few years.

A source at the Customs Department in Bangkok said that owners wishing to keep their boats in Thailand for a year must submit an application to Customs, backed by a letter from the marina at which the boat is berthed, stating that the boat is berthed there or has to be repaired there, and needs to remain in the country for more than six months, though not longer than one year.

A highly-placed source at the Phuket Customs Office said that this rule applies only to foreign vessels entering the country after March 22 this year.

"Vessels already in the country [before that date] may apply for an extension after the six months, according to the old rules. An extension of not more than four months would be subject to scrutiny by the Chief of Phuket Customs, and not more than six months by the Director of the Customs, Region 5. A period longer than six months would have to be approved by the Customs Department in Bangkok."

However, he said, for vessels entering the country after March 22, an extension after the first year might be possible if there was a necessity for the vessel to remain in the country longer. The Customs Office would consider whether to grant an extension or not.

According to the Phuket source, the word "necessity" will be liberally interpreted with the aim of getting boats to stay longer.

Just how liberal the interpretation will be remains to be seen. The Phuket Customs Office received the notice only in the past couple of days. Although a handful of applications have already been submitted, it is too early for any to have been approved — or denied.

Thana Tharadolporb, Harbor Master at the Boat Lagoon, expressed concern about marinas having to issue letters guaranteeing that the vessels were staying in the marina.

"We have more than 200 customers here. We don't know who's good or who's bad.

"If [the new rule] can be implemented successfully, it will be good for our long-term customers; we will be able to issue letters [supporting their applications].

"But for those who are not long-term customers, we won't be able do it because we don't know them well. We don't know if they really will stay with us for a year or not."

Much more upbeat was Andy Stephens, Marina Manager at the Yacht Haven Phuket, who said, "It's fantastic. It's the best thing that's happened to the marina industry in Thailand in years.

"For Phuket, it's the best thing that's happened to boating in a long, long time, more so than the reduction of taxes from over 200% to 50% — that doesn't really make much of a difference, because 50% is still a lot of money.

"But with this [change in the] rule, people will stay here instead of going down to Langkawi [Malaysia] and spending money there. They'll spend the money in Phuket instead."