Thailand gears up to welcome more cruise ships

Thailand is gearing up to welcome more cruise ships. The country is making efforts to improve existing ports, and building new ones, according to government spokesperson Anucha Buraphachaisri.

Today, Anucha cited data from the Tourism and Sports Ministry, revealing that cruises are becoming increasingly popular among tourists. Some 1,800 to 2,400 tourists arrive in Thailand on cruise ships every year during the October to March high season, he said.

Notably, these travellers tend to spend up to 10 times more than regular tourists. Tourists on cruises enjoy marine activities, Thai food, spas, cultural performances and souvenir shopping, Anucha said.

To tap into this lucrative market, Thailand has established more ports for ships to dock, with four main ports currently in operation in Laem Chabang, Phuket, Bangkok and Koh Samui.

The government launched a 10-year plan in 2018 to…