Koh Samui, a renowned resort island in Surat Thani province, Thailand, is gearing up for a substantial increase in tourism this year, as 47 cruise liners are set to dock, bringing approximately 25,000 international travelers, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Kanokkittika Kritwuthikorn, TAT’s director for Koh Samui, revealed that the majority of these tourists will originate from the United States, Europe, and Australia. The island is anticipating a busy start to the year with 10 cruise liners scheduled to arrive in January alone.
Over the weekend, Koh Samui welcomed two cruise liners. The first, “Celebrity Solstice,” carried 2,852 tourists, mainly from Asia, who had embarked on their journey from Hong Kong via Vietnam. After a one-day excursion on the island, the liner continued its voyage to Singapore.
The second liner, “Mein Schiff 5,” arrived from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with 2,543 predominantly German tourists on board, who were bound for Vietnam after their Koh Samui visit.
During their brief stay on Koh Samui, tourists from both liners were expected to inject approximately 20 million baht (US$573,066) into the local economy, according to Kanokkittika.
Last year, nearly 50,000 visitors arrived at Koh Samui on cruise liners, contributing an estimated total of 150 million baht in spending. With an increase in scheduled liner visits for this year, the island’s tourism sector is poised for promising growth.
In related news, Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani is witnessing a return to tourism levels reminiscent of the pre-pandemic era, as confirmed by provincial governor Wichawut Jinto. Koh Samui, a popular holiday destination in Surat Thani, experienced increased flight frequencies and tourist arrivals in July, aligning with pre-Covid-19 figures.
Source: Thaiger
