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…
