Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya has gained from a rule change that lets international yachts stay moored for six months, up from the previous 15 days.

Marine tourism in Pattaya is set to grow by more than 25% by 2020 with a boost from government megaprojects and private-sector investment, say executives of the resort's yacht club.

Napong Paripontpochanapisuti, acting deputy managing director for residential business at Ocean Property Co, the operator of Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya, said some 8 million tourists visited Pattaya in the first half of 2017, a 5% rise on the same period last year. Their spending rose 15% year-on-year.

Most Asian arrivals were from China, South Korea and India.

Ocean Property said the number of tourists departing for day trips from the company's port to nearby islands grew by 23% in 2016.

A report on Asian travel trends by World Travel Monitor found that Asian tourists prefer to travel within Asia. Sea and beach destinations are their top choices. The report said Asian travellers in the younger age bracket are looking for new experiences such as boating.

Mr Napong said Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya can accommodate 380 yachts. With the positive signs for Pattaya's marine tourism industry, he is confident that marine tourism along Thailand's Eastern Seaboard will continue to show strong growth.

"To cope with the growth, we are planning a further 100 million baht in investment next year, which will see the addition of 60 new berths and the replacement of some older berths," Mr Napong said.

Scott Finsten, harbour master of the yacht club, said marine tourism in Pattaya is expected to grow by more than 20% this year and will continue to keep that pace in the future.

For the first eight months of 2017, the club received an average of 19,000 visitors a month, outpacing last year's figure.

With tour prices ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 baht per person, the club expects total spending of 60 million baht a month or more than 720 million baht in all of 2017, up from 550 million in 2016.

Mr Finsten said marine tourism in Thailand's Eastern Seaboard will continue to grow, due to more international yachts arriving in Pattaya.

In the past, international yachts visiting the area would only be allowed to stay 15 days. But in the third quarter of 2016, customs officials in Pattaya enacted a new rule permitting international yachts to stay for six months upon arrival, extendable to a further six months.

The number of international yachts visiting Pattaya has more than doubled since last year's third quarter.

Phuket, in the Andaman Sea, receives some 1,300 foreign yachts each year. Pattaya welcomes less than 10% of that, but the city enjoys world-class onshore facilities and proximity to 187 islands in the Gulf of Thailand to explore.

Moreover, the government's Eastern Economic Corridor project is expected to further drive marine tourism, particularly in terms of visitor numbers.

The development of U-tapao airport has helped increase the number of tourists, and January will see the launch of direct flights from the Middle East by Qatar Airways.

This improved connectivity will increase the number of international visitors, including high-spending tourists that enjoy boating.

In addition, the new motorway from Bangkok to the Eastern Seaboard is expected to be finished in 2018, reducing driving time from the city to the coast.

Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya has seen an 84% increase in the number of charter boats since 2010, with private day charter rates ranging from 30,000 to 800,000 baht.

The club is set to host a boat show Nov 23-26. The event is expected to draw more than 6,000 visitors.