Pop up a new ‘flagship’ Samui cruise port to attract tourists
When Thailand’s tourism sector is still an important engine in driving the Thai economy Port development project for large cruise ships (Cruise Terminal) Koh Samui, Surat Thani Province It is one of the government’s tourism policies.
Recently, the Ministry of Transport as a regulator has instructed the Marine Department to select suitable areas to study the master plan Support tourism in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman. in the development of berths to accommodate large cruise ships Koh Samui area Surat Thani Province and according to the 20-year national strategic plan on building competitiveness It is related in the field of marine cruise tourism that promotes Thailand as a center for maritime and coastal pleasure tourism.
Koh Samui, Surat Thani Province It is another important destination that cruise ships arriving in Thailand often choose as a stopover point for cruise ships. Because there are beautiful beaches and a variety of tourist attractions. But at present, cruise ships cannot enter the port directly. Will have to use a small boat to accommodate tourists from cruise ships to travel and spend on Koh Samui. This may cause insecurity and inconvenience to tourists.
Ministry of Transport by the Harbor Department therefore hastened to push forward a study and analysis project for the private sector to invest in a large cruise port development project at Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province. which is an extension of the feasibility study and survey design of cruise terminals which the Marine Department has completed and select suitable areas for the construction of a cruise ship terminal at Laem Hin Kom, Taling Ngam Subdistrict, Koh Samui District, because it is an area with readiness in engineering, economy, environment and society
in the past Thailand has one of the highest rates of cruise ship docking growth in Southeast Asia. Between 2014 and 2019, Thailand recorded a 87.7 percent increase in the number of cruise ships docking. % In 2019, Thailand had 550 cruise ships docked, with Koh Samui having 59 cruises, the third highest after Phuket and Laem Chabang ports only. Cruise travel increased at a rate of 5.3% per year.
The Marine Department has a policy for the private sector to invest in projects in the form of public-private sector (PPP Net Cost) under an investment budget of 12,146 million baht. The state will invest in the cost of land expropriation. All civil construction and building system costs and allow the private sector to invest in the equipment for the operation Operate and maintain the port Including giving the private sector the right to income of all projects for a period of 30 years. The private sector may receive compensation from the government in the form of grants or venture capital. and if the income of the project is higher than the expected rate of return of the private sector The private sector may have to share the benefits with the government sector. in the form of revenue sharing or concession fees
for the capacity of the cruise port It will be able to accommodate two cruise ships at the same time: a large cruise ship of 4,000, a medium cruise ship of 2,500 and a maximum capacity of 80 yachts and a maximum of 6 ferries, with a port length of 362 meters and a channel depth of 12 meters. Passenger terminal containing 3,600 people, which the project studied and analyzed the private investment in the port development project to accommodate large cruise ships. This will promote the tourism potential of the country and support the tourism business to spread money to the local people. as well as pushing Thailand to be a new destination for sustainable water tourism in the future.
However, the project is still in the process of studying and analyzing the private investment in the port development project for large cruise ships in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province. to assess the interest of private investors (Market sound), but believe that there is a private sector interested in investing for sure Because Koh Samui is a popular tourist destination. And cruise ships berth in Asia’s 4th highest after Japan, China and Malaysia.
Wanchai Butthongdee, director of the Marine Department’s Engineering Division, said the Marine Department has studied the suitability and surveyed the design of a large cruise terminal (Cruise Terminal) to select the area for the cruise terminal construction at Laem Hin Kom, Sub-district. Taling Ngam, Koh Samui, due to its readiness in engineering, economy, environment and society. and has accelerated the push for a study and analysis project for private investment (PPP) in the port development project by hiring a consultant for an 18-month period, with a budget of 18 million baht, expected to be completed in June 2022, and presented to the State Enterprise Policy Committee (KOR. The private sector in 2019 and the Cabinet (Cabinet) in 2023 are expected to announce the RFP, open for bidding for joint-investors in 2024, start construction in 2025, construction period is 3 years, and open for service in 2028. Meanwhile, The Marine Department will conduct a parallel study and prepare an environmental and health impact assessment report for the years 2022-2024.
While “Ratchaphon Poolsawat”, the president of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association thinks that the construction of a cruise terminal will allow cruise ships to dock in Koh Samui. There is a tendency that about 10 boats per year and in 1 boat will have about 3,000 tourists. This will make Koh Samui have more tourism numbers and have quite a lot of spending. It’s one of the good things that can happen to Koh Samui tourism. I want the government to promote the actual construction. The people of Samui have already agreed with the public hearing and are ready to support the area around Laem Hin Kom. Including the private sector is ready to invest in that area as well as all associations related to hotels. and Koh Samui tourism business There was an agreement with the construction of a cruise port. Because it is a major development of Koh Samui. This will make Koh Samui a world-class tourist destination that has important channels like cruise ships.
“I want to push for the construction of Laem Mai Kaen Pier, Bophut Subdistrict, Koh Samui District, which will also be a yacht or marina port. because it has been adjusted to travel by yacht It will cause tourists from groups of yachts to come from different countries. come to visit Koh Samui more And this group of tourists has purchasing power and purchasing power as well,” Ratchaporn concluded.
