Songkhla Plans to Attract Western Cruise Tourists with New Port Proposal
SONGKHLA – The Songkhla Chamber of Commerce has proposed the development of a dedicated cruise port in the province to target high-spending Western tourists while continuing to appeal to its traditional visitor base from Malaysia and Singapore.
The proposal was presented to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during her visit to the province in February. According to Songphon Changsiriwattanathamrong, the chamber president, the Marine Department would design the port with funding from the government.
The Opportunity Missed Without a Port
Currently, Songkhla lacks its own dedicated cruise port, resulting in the missed opportunity to attract revenue from cruise lines traveling from Singapore. This proposal aims to change that by making the province a stop on the popular Gulf of Thailand cruise routes.
Songphon said that the government had expressed interest in the proposal, adding that a delegation from the Singapore Tourism Board had recently visited Songkhla to assess the site and explore the province’s cultural tourism offerings.
Cultural and Historical Appeal
A key selling point for the cruise port proposal is Songkhla’s Old Town, which boasts historical and cultural significance. Songphon emphasized that this, along with other local attractions, would be marketed as part of tour packages designed to encourage cruise ships to make Songkhla a regular stop.
Attracting Western Tourists
Songchai Mungprasitthichai, president of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, explained that cruise ships traveling through the Gulf of Thailand typically stop in Koh Samui, Chon Buri’s Laem Chabang port, and other destinations like Phuket. These vessels can carry up to 5,000 passengers, mostly from Western markets.
Songchai recalled the success of previous smaller-scale cruises between 1998 and 2001, which brought between 1,800 and 2,800 passengers from Kuala Lumpur for shopping and leisure in Songkhla.
Future Plans
The proposal includes upgrading local services and human resources in Songkhla to cater to the growing cruise tourism market. Songphon hopes the new cruise port will create economic opportunities while positioning Songkhla as a key destination for high-spending Western tourists in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea cruise circuits.
