Trio battle for market share in boat revenue
PUBLISHED: 22 May 2024 at 07: 03
According to Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri, foreign and domestic investors have expressed interest in the construction of Koh Samui’s fresh cruise switch.
Before approving it, the ministry will review the findings of a feasibility study into the project’s public-private partnership ( PPP ) investment model.
Ms. Manaporn provided an update on the most recent developments of the new cruise connector for this well-known beach in Surat Thani state on Tuesday  .
She claimed that the Marine Department conducted the Marine Department’s investigation and analysis of the PPP design.
After reviewing the results, the ministry will propose the project to the National Economic and Social Development Council ( NESDC ) for consideration.
By September, the cabinet may have approved it, allowing for the selection of private partners to start.
Following that, an EHIA ( environ 18 months ) will be conducted.
Structure is anticipated to start in 2029, and the project will be completed by 2031, according to Ms. Manaporn.
At least three private traders are interested in the project, according to an initial effort to market sound the business up, she noted.
That includes a business group from Phuket and Koh Samui as well as two domestic businesses, Bangkok Airways Plc ( BA ), which currently runs Bangkok Airways and manages Samui Airport.
A freight line technician from Japan is the next potential investor.
The ideal place for a cruise terminal, according to the PPP review, would be a 47-rai plot of land close to Laem Hin Khom in Taling Ngam.
The region includes 15 ray of inland territory, with 10 ray of that belonging to the Department of Forestry. Current negotiations over how to use the property were effective, Ms Manaporn said.
The private business owns the remaining five ray. These might be obtained through negotiations or eviction for a PPP purchase.
A suspension bridge will be constructed to link the customer switch to a visitor center and support developing for the offshore area, which extends more than 32 rai.
About 12.17 billion baht may be invested in the project, which includes a 7, 200 square inch customer switch with a capacity to accommodate 1, 200 passengers per hour and a cruise terminal that can support two cruise ships, each up to 4, 000 people, at the same time, or 120 vacations a year.
At the same time, the new switch will be able to house up to six ships and 80 yachts.
Ms. Manaporn claimed that when traveling in the country, vacationers on vacations are expected to spend around 5, 000 ringgit each. The project is expected to generate a total profit of 8.5 billion ringgit.