The Marine Department of Thailand is actively promoting the
development of dedicated cruise terminals in Phuket, Koh Samui, and
Pattaya. This initiative is part of a strategic effort to tap into the
growing cruise tourism sector, according to a source within the
department.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Thailand was a favoured destination for
cruise liners in the region. In 2018, Phuket welcomed 219 cruise ships,
followed by Bangkok Port and Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri with 149
visits, and Koh Samui with 89 visits, as per the department's data.
The introduction of dedicated cruise terminals is expected to attract
more cruise ships to Thailand, which will, in turn, generate a
significant boost to the local economy. On average, cruise passengers
tend to spend more compared to air or land travellers, with daily
expenditures of around 7,000 baht (US$202) in Bangkok and Pattaya, 6,400
baht (US$184) in Phuket, and approximately 4,200 baht (US$121) on Koh
Samui.
To attract high-spending tourists, the Marine Department has
allocated a total of 156.15 million baht (US$4.5 million) between 2019
and 2023 for feasibility studies on establishing dedicated cruise
terminals in the mentioned locations.
By having dedicated cruise terminals, Thailand aims to entice
affluent passengers from ports like Hong Kong and Singapore to make
stops in the country, allowing them to spend more time and money
exploring the local attractions.
One of the proposed developments includes a cruise terminal in
Pattaya, capable of accommodating 1,500 passengers when used as a home
port or double that number for port-of-call visits. The dedicated
terminal will offer greater convenience for passengers, as it eliminates
the need to disembark at container terminals in Bangkok or Laem Chabang
ports before traveling to Pattaya.
The construction of each terminal will be carried out through a
public-private partnership model, ensuring the involvement of private
sector expertise.
However, the plan is still pending approval from the new government.
The Marine Department anticipates that the three dedicated cruise
terminals will be operational by 2028, approximately 900 days after the
commencement of construction, as outlined in the timeline.