THAILAND should capitalise on steady year-on-year growth of inbound cruise visitors to the country and improve its cruise infrastructure to attract even more visitors, according to the country’s largest inbound cruise handler, Regale International Travel.
Regale International Travel’s managing director, Jumpol Chadavadh, said Thailand would be able to attract more cruises, both new ships and increased frequencies of calls, if the country developed ports in other locations such as Pranburi near Hua Hin.
Despite last year’s domestic political turmoil and the European economic downturn, the company still handled some 90,000 passengers, surpassing its original target of 50,000, said Jumpol.
This year, the company is expecting to cater to about 120,000 passengers, with Jumpol saying the continued growth is the result of increasing number of cruise ships and ports-of-call. Cruise ships are now calling more often at Phuket and Koh Samui rather than just at Laem Chabang.
Meanwhile, cruise ships calling at several ports in Thailand and handled by Regale over the last two weeks include the 2,068-guest Queen Elizabeth and 2,620-guest Queen Mary 2. Both ships are scheduled to return next year and are expected to call at more ports.
By Sirima Eamtako
