The 50th annual Interferry conference, the yearly meeting of the world's ferry and passenger-boat industry, runs in Bangkok from 31 October to 4 November 2026 at the Shangri-La Bangkok, with Chao Phraya Express Boat as host sponsor. The Nation reported that more than 400 participants from over 270 companies in 40 countries are expected, and the Transport Ministry is using the event to present Thailand as a hub for maritime travel. This briefing, from a Thailand DMC for travel agents, sets out what the week is, what it changes for a booking and what it does not.
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What Interferry 2026 is
Interferry is the trade association of ferry and passenger-boat operators, and its annual conference moves between countries. According to the organisers, the speakers programme runs on 2 and 3 November and the conference closes with a technical tour on 4 November. Chao Phraya Express Boat, which runs the scheduled passenger boats on Bangkok's river, is the host sponsor, and its chairwoman, Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram, chairs the organising committee. Deputy Transport Minister Sanphet Bunyamanee told The Nation that the talks would cover regulation, safety, vessel design, service standards, clean energy and investment, and that what comes out of them would feed into Thai maritime policy over the next five to ten years. TAT, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau and the Marine Department are among the Thai bodies taking part.
What it changes for a booking
Very little, and it is worth saying so plainly. A conference of a few hundred delegates is small beside the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in mid-October, which our mega-event compression briefing covers, and it is unlikely to fill the city. The exception is the venue: groups that want the Shangri-La Bangkok or the riverside hotels around it on those dates should check availability early. Nothing published says public boat services will change during the technical tour, so river transfers and dinner cruises can be planned as normal and reconfirmed in the week before, as with any river booking. The same week, the Wat Banthat Thong temple fair runs in central Bangkok until 1 November, as our temple fair briefing explains.
Why it matters beyond the week
The longer story is the policy one. The ministry says it wants to learn from overseas operators about cleaner vessels, safety and service standards, and to draw investment into water tourism. For agents that is the part to watch, because island transfers are where Thai itineraries depend most on boats: our air and sea island transfers briefing covers how they work today, and our cruise terminal briefing covers the port side. Nothing announced so far changes a route, a timetable or a safety rule, so there is nothing to requote. Ask your Thailand DMC which operators it uses on each crossing and what it checks before it books them, which is the question the conference is about.
What to do
For corporate clients in shipping, ports or tourism, the week is a reason to be in Bangkok, and our MICE team can build a programme around the conference dates; registration for the conference itself is with Interferry. For leisure files, book as normal. Our transport team handles transfers by road and water, our boat charter team arranges private river and sea boats, and every other service is on our Thailand DMC services page. Send details through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is Interferry 2026?
From 31 October to 4 November 2026 at the Shangri-La Bangkok. The organisers list the speakers programme on 2 and 3 November and a technical tour on 4 November.
Will it fill Bangkok hotels?
It is unlikely to. The Nation reported more than 400 expected participants. Check the venue and nearby riverside hotels early if a group needs them.
Will river boat services change?
Nothing published says so. Reconfirm river transfers and cruises in the week before travel, as with any river booking.
Can clients attend the conference?
It is a trade conference for the ferry industry, and registration is directly with Interferry. We can arrange transfers and programmes around it.
Who is hosting it?
Chao Phraya Express Boat is the host sponsor, and the Transport Ministry is backing the event.
