Songkhla Eyes Cruise Port to Attract Affluent Tourists

In an ambitious move to elevate Songkhla as a prime destination for cruise tourists, the local Chamber of Commerce has proposed developing a dedicated cruise port. This initiative aims to attract affluent Western travellers while maintaining its allure for traditional visitors from Malaysia and Singapore.

Songphon Changsiriwattanathamrong, president of the Chamber of Commerce, presented this bold vision during Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's visit in February. He called on the Marine Department to design the port, a step that could significantly enhance local tourism prospects overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

Songkhla's current lack of a cruise port means missing out on lucrative travel routes, particularly from Singapore, a bustling cruise hub. Encouraging developments include government backing and interest from the Singapore Tourism Board, with delegates exploring Songkhla’s cultural offerings.

The province’s Old Town, steeped in history and culture, is poised to be a key attraction, enticing cruise lines to include Songkhla in their itineraries. Songchai Mungprasitthichai of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association envisions a route where cruises, typically visiting Koh Samui, could soon anchor in Songkhla, drawing a wave of high-end tourists.

Reflecting on a successful period between 1998 and 2001, when smaller cruises brought shoppers and sightseers to Songkhla, Songchai sees the potential for a tourism renaissance. With a focus on attracting Western tourists, the proposed port could transform regional tourism dynamics.

Songphon highlights plans to enhance local services and skills, preparing Songkhla to welcome this new market. With cruises charting courses from Singapore through the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, Songkhla's future as a cruise hotspot looks increasingly promising, reported The Thaiger.