In order to enhance industry-government-university cooperation in marine tourism and the yacht industry, the Bureau of Tourism, Tainan City Government especially organized the 2023 Tainan International Yachting Forum with the theme of marine recreation and tourism. The event was held on September 9 and 10 at Yaguo Tainan Anping Yachting and the Marina and Formosa Yacht Hotel. The event included "Special Market," "Yacht Experience," "Yacht Forum," "Harborside Concert," and many others. In order to further implement industry-university cooperation in the marine yacht industry, Chairman You-lin Hou and CEO Zhi-yuan Luo LOHAS Marine Academy donated a 28-foot sailboat to STUST, and Vice President Rui-shing Chang received the gift on behalf of STUST.

【STUST received a gift of the Exsaillence sailing boat and joined hands with Yago Yachts to cultivate marine professionals.】

This sailboat was originally named "Lohas." It is one of the important contributors to the promotion of marine leisure by the Lohas Marine Academy, which has participated in countless competitions and activities. The Lohas Marine Academy has spared no effort in training professional marine leisure services. In this forum, this sailboat was donated to STUST, with the hope that by introducing professional sailing education into the higher education system, it will take root, cultivate young professionals, and promote industry-university link between STUST and Lohas Marine Academy.

【STUST received a gift of the Exsaillence yacht and joined hands with Yago Yachts to cultivate marine professionals.】

In addition, the Bureau of Tourism, Tainan City Government, especially invited industry, government and academic experts in the field of marine life to serve as forum speakers on September 10 to discuss the development of the marine industry as well as the status and future prospects of marine recreational activities. Through exchanges between experts and scholars, the forum could deepen the industrial foundation and connections of local marine tourism, attracting many people who are interested in marine recreation issues to participate.

【Chairman You-lin Hou and CEO Zhi-yuan Luo of Lohas Marine Academy donated a 28-foot yacht to STUST, and Vice President Rui-shing Chang (left) received the gift on behalf of the university.】

This forum was hosted by Wan-ru Li, the host of "Taiwan Talks of TaiwanPlus. The forum included two sessions. The first session was "Salute to the Ocean—Taiwan's New Blue Ocean Business Opportunities." It was hosted by General Manager Yu-shu Tang of Yaguo Yacht Group and young tourism entrepreneur Jun-ning Hu. In the first half of the forum, the two parties discussed the current status and future prospects of Taiwan's yacht industry. In the second half, they focused on how the industry can cooperate, based on the marine development regulations, increase services and product content to actively promote the development of the marine industry and meet the needs of the Chinese people for marine sightseeing and leisure. The second forum, "How to start your first sailing lesson in life," was delivered by Head Coach Zhi-yuan Luo of Lohas Marine Academy. Assistant Professor Jia-chun Wang of the Department of Leisure, Recreation, and Tourism Management shared his experience in participating in marine activities and the current stage of the marine recreation industry. He offered an overview of industry-university cooperation to discuss possible future directions of cooperation and take root in marine education.

【The 2023 Tainan International Yachting Forum was held at Yaguo Tainan Anping Yacht Marina and Formosa Yacht Hotel on September 9 and 10】

You-lin Hou, Chairman of Yaguo Yacht Group, said that he would sponsor the cost of parking the Yacht at Yaguo Pier for one year to show the group's unlimited support for cultivating young students in the field of marine leisure. The yacht will be named "STUST Exsaillence" as a coinage of two words--Excellence and Sail—to highlight the name of STUST on the hull and sail.