In a bid to boost tourism in Thailand, ferry company offers free tickets to popular islands

[webfact]

In a bid to boost tourism in Thailand, ferry company offers free tickets to popular islands

 

File photo

 

In what is the latest of many moves to boost the ailing tourism industry, a ferry operator in southern Thailand has taken the rare step of offering free tickets to passengers.

 

Raja Ferry Port Public Co, which operates ferry services between Donsak on the mainland and Koh Samui and Koh Phanghan, two of Thailand’s most popular islands, said the promotion will run from 25 January to 30 June 2020.

 

As part of the promotion, any passenger who buys a return ticket between Donsak and Koh Saumi will also receive a return ticket to Koh Phanghan at no extra cost.
 

Tickets will be valid for 15 days from the date of issue. 

 

Apichart Chayopas, managing director of Raja Ferry Port Public Co, who announced the promotion, told MCOT the offer will help to stimulate tourism on the islands.

 

For more information, passengers can contact the Raja Call Center on 02-2768211-2, 092 247 3423-5 or make a reservation via the website https://www.rajaferryport.com/ Or on the Line app @rajaferry.

 

The news comes after the head of Thailand’s hoteliers' association predicted a tough 2020 for the country’s tourism industry.

 

Suphawan Thanomkiatphoom said bookings are already down 15% compared to the same period last year, while only 60% of hotels are booked between January 25th to 31st, which is Chinese New Year and typically a peak period for tourism in Thailand.

 

Ms Suphawan said the industry was hoping for a flurry of late bookings from Chinese tourists.

 

 

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[J Town]

These truly are desperate times! Talking to a motorbike taxi driver last weekend, he said he's had very few customers, and had heard people are going to the surrounding countries instead of Thailand. Five days of "free" boat rides with strings attached won't even be a drop in a bucket.

[phuketrichard]

lol

...25 January to 30 June 2020.

 

Quote

As part of the promotion, any passenger who buys a return ticket between Donsak and Koh Saumi will also receive a return ticket to Koh Phanghan at no extra cost.

what if ya dont want go to the backpackers island??

 

not well thought out promotion.

[kotsak]

Wow.. It's that bad..

[orchis]

46 minutes ago, J Town said:

Five days of "free" boat rides with strings attached won't even be a drop in a bucket.

it is five months

[Surelynot]

A free ticket won't keep you afloat.

[J Town]

1 hour ago, orchis said:

it is five months

Five days, five months, it still won't make a difference.

[AhFarangJa]

Maybe I am missing something here, but if the islands were popular why would you be giving free tickets to get there....

[Tidybeard]

Oh dear .... the Raja ferries from Samui to Koh Phanghan are the oldest and most unsafe ferries in the Raja fleet. You risk you life every time you travel on one. Do they really think that giving a free ticket worth 2 beers is going to change tourist numbers ? 

[Borzandy]

Like a zero dollar tour ?

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

In what is the latest of many moves to boost the ailing tourism industry, a ferry operator in southern Thailand has taken the rare step of offering free tickets to passengers.

That will boost the local domestic Thai tourist... foreigners won't be here to take advantage.

[neeray]

What a pity that "someone" mismanaged the Thai economy so badly that a SME has to give the services away to stay afloat.

 

But heh, a similar concept could be a great use for those otherwise useless Chinese subs.

Dive, dive, dive.

[sammieuk1]

The Greek islands would be a good idea????

[Taco]

Yea but what they fail to mention is that the raja ferry to koh phangan is a car ferry that takes 1 hour 45 minutes and departs from the far west tip of samui which is as far as possible you can get from the main tourist areas of Chaweng or Lamai.  So 30 minute plus taxi (probably 800bt) and that a super slow boat or just do the usual 25 minute Seatran or Lompraya ferry for 300bt.  

 

This a deal to literally keep that empty boat afloat

[Jimbo2014]

Not sure this amazing idea will offset the deterrent from polluted beaches and cities, high baht and of course the amazing safety record.   Offering Free Ferry rides may not be the best idea to encourage more Chinese, given recent events.   https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44728478

 

[Netease]

4 hours ago, neeray said:

What a pity that "someone" mismanaged the Thai economy so badly that a SME has to give the services away to stay afloat.

 

But heh, a similar concept could be a great use for those otherwise useless Chinese subs.

Dive, dive, dive.

Thats a good idea, use the subs as a tourist attraction, submarine rides to the islands bht 500,000, all profits go to ??????

[BobinBKK]

Free boat ticket - 800 baht for lifejacket...

[baansgr]

On 1/14/2020 at 7:59 AM, AhFarangJa said:

Maybe I am missing something here, but if the islands were popular why would you be giving free tickets to get there....

And it says islands...when In fact the free ticket is only to one island KPG

[RotBenz8888]

What difference does a free ticket make, when the Baht is just as strong out on the islands.

[holy cow cm]

Pretty soon the bar girls will be sayin: bar fine me out 5 days, pay only 3 days for entertainment..

[overherebc]

On 1/14/2020 at 8:53 AM, neeray said:

What a pity that "someone" mismanaged the Thai economy so badly that a SME has to give the services away to stay afloat.

 

But heh, a similar concept could be a great use for those otherwise useless Chinese subs.

Dive, dive, dive.

Sh-t, who left the hatch open ????

[observer90210]

Free lifejackets also offered in the package....that is,  if available on board in sufficience ?