Thailand is accelerating its strategy to become a major regional cruise tourism hub, with the government advancing plans to build new cruise terminals on both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea coastlines.
The initiative is being led by the Ministry of Transport of Thailand and includes discussions with global cruise operators such as Royal Caribbean Group to improve infrastructure and expand cruise operations in the country.
Royal Caribbean expects 120,000 cruise visitors
During talks with Thai authorities, Royal Caribbean Group confirmed that Thailand remains a key destination in its Asia cruise network.
The company plans to operate more than 45 cruise calls to Thai ports this year, bringing an estimated 120,000 international visitors to the country.
The discussions involved senior representatives including Panya Chupanich, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport, and Wendy Yamazaki, Regional Vice President for Government Relations in Asia at Royal Caribbean.
Officials from the Port Authority of Thailand also participated in the meeting.
New cruise terminals planned under PPP model
To support the growth of cruise tourism, the government is planning to develop large-scale cruise terminals under public-private partnership (PPP) models.
Proposed locations include:
- Phuket on the Andaman coast
- Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand
- Potential sites between Pattaya and Sattahip in the upper Gulf region
Feasibility studies are currently underway to determine the most suitable sites capable of accommodating large international cruise ships.
Expanding infrastructure to meet rising demand
Thai authorities say one of the biggest challenges for the cruise industry in the country is the limited number of ports able to handle modern mega cruise vessels.
As a result, the government is prioritizing port infrastructure upgrades, including development planning for the major cargo and passenger hub Laem Chabang Port.
Improved facilities would allow Thailand to better integrate with global cruise routes across Asia and the Pacific.
Strengthening Thailand’s tourism strategy
The Thailand cruise hub development plan reflects the country’s broader strategy to expand into high-value tourism segments while strengthening long-term travel infrastructure.
By building modern cruise terminals on both coasts and working closely with global cruise operators like Royal Caribbean Group, Thailand aims to attract more international cruise lines and position itself as a key gateway for cruise tourism in Southeast Asia.
