The Government supported plan to develop a recreational boating culture has created the fastest growing boating activity in Asia. Since 2009 when the coastal regions were opened for recreational activity the unprecedented numbers of people actively involved in going boating and the annual increases confirm that this is a sustained and fast moving market that has fully embraced “messing about in boats.”

The large disparity between driving licences issued and registration of leisure boats can be attributed to respect for the Police and controls applied by them to this system compared to the current lack of resources of the Coastguard. It is safe to assume that the number of boats currently in use is probably more than double the number registered.