Thailand’s Marine Department is ready to revive the Cruise Terminal Development Project to cater for the growth in marine tourism.
In 2018, Thailand ranked third globally for most cruise ship stopovers, with 581 ships stopping per year and 14% development year on 12 months. Despite this development, the country lacks a respectable standard cruise terminal.
A division report showed that the ports in the Gulf of Thailand, primarily Bangkok and Laem Chabang, welcome 149 cruises annually, with passengers spending 7,000 baht per particular person daily. The report also revealed that passengers from 89 cruise ships stopping at Koh Samui Port in Surat Thani have been spending four,200 baht per day, whereas passengers on 219 cruises that stopped at Phuket Port had been spending 6,four hundred baht daily.
Acting director Kritpetch Chaichuay acknowledged that the department had been allocated 151.15 million baht between 2019 and 2023 for 3 cruise terminal developments, to boost tourism income. Dark enhance is mirrored within the Tourism Ministry’s 2018-2027 Cruising Tourism Promoting Strategy, 60% of which focuses on the cruise terminal venture, Bangkok Post reported.
The terminals will cover delivery that passes by way of Thailand, with the bulk originating in Singapore and ending in Hong Kong. Cruise ships will cease at Surat Thani’s Koh Samui and Leam Chabang Port in Chon Buri, added Kritpetch.
The department agreed to develop Bali Hai Pier in Chon Buri right into a hybrid pier. Kritpetch stated the port shall be developed to serve as both a home port for cruises for 1,500 passengers and a port of name for ships with a capacity of three,500 to four,000 passengers. This project is presently in the analysis and improvement section, with the examine report, estimated value and design expected to be finalised this month.
Kritpetch added that an funding analysis and examine into public-private partnership options are anticipated later in June, which the division will subsequently cross on to a brand new transport minister..