The Marine Department is pushing for the development of a dedicated cruise terminal in Phuket, Koh Samui and Pattaya in an effort to tap into the rapidly growing sector, a source in the department said.
According to the department’s figures, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Thailand was one of the most popular stops for cruise liners passing through the region. In 2018, 219 cruise ships stopped over in Phuket, followed by Bangkok Port and Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri (149), and Koh Samui (89).
The source said a dedicated cruise terminal will attract more ships to dock in Thailand, which will bring in more money for the local economy, as the average cruise passenger spends more than travellers who come by air or over land — forking out about 7,000 baht per day in Bangkok and Pattaya, 6,400 baht per day in Phuket and about 4,200 baht per day on Koh Samui.
In an effort to attract more high-spending tourists, the Marine Department has spent a total of 156.15 million baht between 2019-2023 to study the feasibility of opening dedicated cruise terminals in the aforementioned locations.
The department hopes the presence of a cruise terminal will entice more high-spending passengers from more affluent ports, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, to stop over and spend time in Thailand, the source said.
For instance, the department is planning to construct a cruise terminal in Pattaya, which will be able to accommodate 1,500 passengers when it is used as a home port or double the amount when used as a port-of-call.
Passengers would find it more convenient to have a dedicated stop to dock in Pattaya, as currently, those wishing to visit the resort city must disembark at Bangkok or Laem Chabang ports, which are actually container terminals.
Each port will be constructed under a public-private partnership model.
The plan, however, still needs to be approved by the new government, he said. The department expects the three ports will be opened in 2028, or around 900 days after construction starts.