PHUKET (NNT) - Phuket province is experiencing a major increase in yacht and cruise liner traffic, with a total of 159 vessels entering and leaving its waters in 2023 alone, a rise from previous years. The trend has prompted the Transport Ministry to kick-start an accelerated development of a large port through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project to cater to the growing demand.

 

Statistics from the Transport Ministry show fluctuating yacht traffic over the past five years, with numbers peaking in 2019, declining during the pandemic, and rebounding strongly in 2023. In response, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated that the Marine Department is now tasked with enhancing Phuket as a premier maritime destination capable of accommodating various sizes of yachts from around the world. 

 

Plans are also underway to develop a cruise terminal to facilitate routes along the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, connecting regional ports and enhancing the maritime travel experience.

 

The feasibility of this extensive project is currently under review, with a particular focus on a new pier development in Koh Samui. The project, estimated to cost 12.86 billion baht, is scheduled for PPP Committee review by June.

 

By Krajangwit Johjit

 

Source: NNT 2024-04-16

 

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Pie in the sky. More money wasted with inflated expensive studies 

Are they also going to place an arena at the same area so all the Taxi Mafia, SongTaews and Mini-Vans drivers can fight the tourists who become upset at the ripoff fares ????  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its good they want to build a terminal but if they want something in koh samui they also need to sort out all the bureaucracy up there. Yachts want to be free to explore and not have to fill in new paperwork everytime they want to drop anchor in a new location. 

Phuket is quite accomadating to the yachting scene compared to samui and bkk but it can be a sticky situation for crew working on yachts that are based here year round. In Phuket this means tourist visas for the duration of your employment. 

44 minutes ago, sikishrory said:

In Phuket this means tourist visas for the duration of your employment. 

 

Crew working on foreign owned yachts in Phuket that stay a long time , do not need Thai work permits ?

159 yachts and cruise vessels in one year. I thought that number would be much higher.

Thailand's Sydney Opera House