Tourists cruising back to Koh Samui, PM pleased
>>SURAT THANI: Koh Samui yesterday welcomed the second of three cruise ships to the resort island since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, bringing more than 1,800 visitors vital for hastening the recovery of tourism.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he was pleased to learn of the cruise ship, the Mein Schiff 5, berthed in Koh Samui yesterday.
Aboard are 1,897 mostly Germans, as well as 917 crew, who took a one-day trip on the island and mainland Surat Thani, said deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul.
Local tourism authorities and businesses offered the visitors tours of the main attractions and community tourism spots on the island and in Surat Thani. The tours were key to distributing tourism income to the localities, she said.
Mein Schiff 5 is the second cruise ship from Europe to arrive in Koh Samui this year after a long absence in cruising services due to the onset of the pandemic more than two years ago.
The first cruise ship came on Nov 27 and the third is due to make a stop on Dec 31, Ms Traisuree said.
According to the Surat Thani authorities, 31 cruise ships will make their way to Koh Samui next year and another 32 the following year.
“Cruise ship tours back are returning to Thailand, which is invigorating the country’s bustling tourism scene,” she said.
International arrivals by air and overland border passes are steadily increasing, which suggests the tourism industry will be able to meet its targets.
The tourist arrivals projection for 2023 is 20 million, excluding Chinese travellers, creating tourism income of 2.38 trillion baht, or 80% of the 3 trillion baht which the country earned in preCovid 2019, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn said last week.
Last week also saw this year’s target of 11 million visitors being surpassed.
Ms Traisuree said Gen Prayut has ordered authorities to rein in the shops and nightspots which take advantage of visitors. He raised his concern after complaints were made about tourists being overcharged for food and taxi rides, and lured into shopping for low-quality souvenirs or products.
The malpractices tarnish Thailand’s reputation, she said.