on 19 May 2022
Joe Lewis and his party on board Aviva are understood to be the first group of tourists to visit Koh Samui since the Thai government scrapped 'Test & Go' entry requirements
Aviva in Koh Samui this week
The 98.4-metre megayacht Aviva has arrived in Pattaya, after a voyage across the Gulf of Thailand from Koh Samui in Surat Thani province.
The US$130m Abeking & Rasmussen yacht is owned by British billionaire Joe Lewis, 85, who is the majority shareholder of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
The vessel, which carries 30 crew people and seven passengers, was anchored off Nathon beach town on Koh Samui since its arrival from Singapore on Saturday, according to local reports.
Surat Thani governor Wichawut Jinto told media on Wednesday that he hoped the presence of the vessel would attract tourists to Samui and other nearby islands.
Lewis and his party are understood to be the first group of tourists to visit Koh Samui via yacht, since the Thai government scrapped the ‘Test & Go’ Covid entry requirements on May 1.
Aviva was the 46th longest yacht in the world upon delivery in 2017 and has a volume close to 5,000GT.
Aviva’s space-age bridge, decorated in leather and silver carbon
She boasts an extremely generous beam of 17.24 metres, and a full-size indoor padel tennis court. Other noteworthy features include a spa, swimming pool, ‘secret’ cinema behind a hidden door in the saloon, and a full-beam master cabin with a walk-in wardrobe inspired by a Chanel boutique.