Tourism groups in southern Thailand are pushing for the development
of a cruise terminal to boost the number of international visitors to
the region.
The Transport Ministry says it is reviewing the results of a
feasibility study into a cruise terminal in Koh Samui, with reports that
interest in the project has come from several parties, including
Bangkok Airways, which also manages Samui Airport, a business group from
Phuket and Koh Samui, and a shipping line operator from Japan.
If environmental and other approvals are ticked off by the
government, construction of the terminal could begin in 2029 and be
operational by 2031.
Deputy transport minister Manaporn Charoensri said during a workshop
that the Marine Department is also looking at turning the Phuket
deep-sea port into a cruise terminal, adding that a study on the issue
will be completed by the year's end.
She said the port would be a hybrid cruise terminal, used both as a
home port for small and mid-size cruises and as a port of call for
larger cruise ships.
Elsewhere, the Songkhla Tourism Association is urging the government
to further promote tourism in the province by building a cruise ship
terminal and adding direct flights from cities in China to Hat Yai.
In other transport news, the Transport Ministry aims to launch a
seaplane service in Phuket by the year's end as part of the government's
aviation hub policy.