Koh Samui eyes approval of 12.1 billion baht cruise terminal

[webfact]

A new cruise terminal in Koh Samui, set to open in 2032, aims to significantly boost tourism in Surat Thani, Thailand, according to Deputy Caretaker Minister Manaporn Charoensri.

 

Manaporn, along with Caretaker Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, visited Koh Samui to review the progress of major transport infrastructure projects. Suriya revealed that the ministry has several new initiatives underway to enhance the tourism sector.

 

Manaporn announced yesterday, August, 24, that the Marine Department has completed a comprehensive study on the 12.1 billion baht cruise terminal project, which will cover 47 rai of land at Laem Hin Khom. The chosen location is ideal due to its deep-sea environment, which naturally breaks wind and provides ample space for the port.

 

The study also addresses emergency response measures and insights into the potential for full-scale commercial development, including readiness for public utilities. It explores Public-Private Partnership (PPP) net cost investment as the most suitable financing option.

The PPP net cost investment is projected to generate at least 46 billion baht in economic benefits over 37 years, with an expected economic internal rate of return (EIRR) of over 15%, said Manaporn.

“The Marine Department has submitted the study to the ministry, which will forward it to the Cabinet for consideration.”

 

She added that the project is expected to receive approval by next month, after which the bidding process will begin.

 

Construction is slated to start in 2029 and will take at least three years to complete. The terminal is anticipated to be fully operational by 2032.

 

Manaporn noted that the terminal is expected to handle 120 cruise landings annually and attract at least 180,000 cruise visitors to the island each year. Manaporn added that the new terminal is poised to stimulate tourism in the southern province.

 

“The project has received positive feedback from private investors, as it is expected to stimulate the province’s tourism.”

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the ministry to strengthen Surat Thani‘s tourism infrastructure, ensuring long-term economic benefits and enhanced visitor experiences in the region, reported Bangkok Post.

 

by Ryan Turner
Image: Supapong Chaolan/Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-08-26

 

 

Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe

[thaibeachlovers]

Samui is already destroyed by too many tourists and they want more!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only explanation I can see is greed. They certainly don't care about the environment.

[chiang mai]

"The chosen location is ideal due to its deep-sea environment, which naturally breaks wind".

 

Really? 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Samui is already destroyed by too many tourists and they want more!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only explanation I can see is greed. They certainly don't care about the environment.

That's what I was thinking, does Samui have the infrastructure to accommodate this plan?

Or is this another profit over sustainability idea in action. 

[J Branche]

Yes. Once you change the attraction of a location, it becomes to populated, with lack of planning and foresight the investment return could be in jeopardy or even fail.  

 

Absolutely there needs to be a study and balance to serve everyone's needs.  The impact on these changes and size of Port project for size and infrastructure of island should be top concerns.

[crazykopite]

I thought they were going to build a bridge from the mainland to the island . Cruise ships are not a regular occurrence on the island and when they do come it’s for 24 hours the people spend around 9 hours on the island before heading back for their paid evening meal and entertainment I think this idea is another dream like F1 racing in Bangkok it’s all pie in the sky 

[ronster]

Roads will be fun with all the mini van taxis screaming round the island with the people off these ships 🙈

Place is practically ruined already with construction, lack of water , too much traffic etc .

[john donson]

only 12 billion... wow... and the profits will go to...

[Tropicalevo]

I wonder what the Conrad think about this.

Their peace and quiet will be shattered.

 

24 minutes ago, ronster said:

Roads will be fun with all the mini van taxis screaming round the island with the people off these ships

 

The convoys of minivans will be bad, but the convoys of safari trucks are much, much worse.

Reckless at the best of times.

[harryviking]

Maybe Samui should concentrate on its water problem first?? That Island is now so crowded and full of cars it is a nightmare to be there. I have already stopped to go there after two decades of visits.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

That's what I was thinking, does Samui have the infrastructure to accommodate this plan?

Or is this another profit over sustainability idea in action. 

Profit, greed, repeat. It's been greed  since last century, when Thaksin was PM.

Is it co incidence that the terminal is mooted after Thaksin becomes the puppet master?

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

I thought they were going to build a bridge from the mainland to the island . Cruise ships are not a regular occurrence on the island and when they do come it’s for 24 hours the people spend around 9 hours on the island before heading back for their paid evening meal and entertainment I think this idea is another dream like F1 racing in Bangkok it’s all pie in the sky 

LOL. Perhaps you are new to LOS. In LOS projects are rarely about completing them. More important things than actually building something.

[tomazbodner]

This is a great idea. So all these massive cruise ships can bring them water and take away the trash!

[OneMoreFarang]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

12.1 billion baht cruise terminal project

Who will pay for this?

Surat Thani province? If yes, fine.

Don't burden the Thai taxpayer with a very expensive project which might benefit only a very small region. 

[Tropicalevo]

41 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Who will pay for this?

Surat Thani province? If yes, fine.

Don't burden the Thai taxpayer with a very expensive project which might benefit only a very small region. 

That is an interesting thought.

I am sure that it will be manipulated managed out of Suratthani.

The governors there have been milking Samui's revenues etc for decades.

It only achieved some form of independence in 2012.

[khunPer]

Cruise-tourist is not a good solution.

The stay only for one day, not sleeping on the island, they even have their dinner on the cruise ship when they continue.

When a big cruise ships arrives, the local traffic collapse, and locals and ordinary tourist have a hard time to find transportation, as all is used for the cruise on that particular day.

 

A better solution would be to improve quality tourism – which is already an ongoing process in itself with expensive airfares and the highest concentration in the nation of luxury hotels – tourists that stays for several days and spend money on the island, including accommodation, meals and sightseeing tours.

 

The islands infrastructure can't handle mass tourism and there is not much space left to improve infrastructure to mass tourism-level, like for example space for a second road around the island.

[Will B Good]

 

 

 

Just as other major tourist centres ban large cruise ships and restrict tourists from swamping destinations......it's all in the timing I guess.

[xtrnuno41]

Koh Samui, where lots of garbage is stored, they cleaned it already?

They already have a major problem now with garbage. 

Where is all that new made garbage going then, as it will immensely grow .

Ships also get rit of their garbage then on island?

 

Electric power breakages, too less water.

But of course with that project, they implement all these problems.(sarcastic)

 

If you pick up a cucumber (animal) in the sea, you get fined and now big ships will come in and destroy habitat?! 2029 starting? Then costs wil have increased a lot more.  

Which ships are coming in ?

The Wonder of the Seas can accommodate up to 6,988 passengers plus 2,300 crew members. The ship has 18 decks, 16 of which are accessible to passengers.

Then you have in one blow almost 10000 people on Samui. Almost 7000 moving any day, every day.

All on the island? Or the bridge is as wel implemented with this project? Oh, it isnt, as the bridge will cost only 40 billion baht, but starting in 2028 !  Incredibel the bridge is costing way more then a total new harbor.

DId they calculated right?