Island off the east coast has a visitor boom.
PUBLISHED: 22 Nov 2024 at 14: 18
At least 10 boats are scheduled to visit Koh Samui in Surat Thani until the following month, and there are two cruise ships carrying more than 2, 000 visitors.
On Friday, the popular beach island’s Nathon wharf in tambon sa Thong welcomed 1, 924 foreign tourists to the US-based Holland America Line’s MS Noordam.
The MS Seven Seas Explorer, a dispatch owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in the United States, made its second shore journey with 750 guests.
The environment became lively as visitors arrived, with over 100 cars — cars, buses and trucks — provided for their one-day vacation.
Nittharat Wanitcharoen, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s ( TAT ) Koh Samui office, said 10 cruise ships are scheduled to visit from mid-November to next month, bringing about 7, 500 passengers to the island.
Each guest is expected to spend about 5, 000 ringgit in a day on transportation, meals and memorabilia, which may generate around 35 million ringgit in full spending, she said.
On Friday night, the team at Nathon Pier on Koh Samui greets cruise people. ( Photo: Supapong Chaolan )