BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s Transport Ministry pushed ahead with plans for new cruise terminals on both coasts using public-private partnerships to ease port bottlenecks and handle larger ships, as Royal Caribbean Group projected 120,000 cruise visitors this year.
Government banks on cruise boom for growth
The government aimed to position Thailand as a regional hub for cruise travel and viewed the sector as a lever for tourism-driven economic expansion. The Transport Ministry presented proposals for new terminals on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman coast to process calls from large vessels more efficiently.
Officials framed the projects as part of a broader strategy to capture more high-spending visitors arriving by sea. They linked the initiative directly to rising demand from major operators such as Royal Caribbean Group.
Talks with Royal Caribbean and port authority
In recent discussions, the ministry explored specific ideas for terminal projects and operating standards with cruise company Royal Caribbean Group. According to official information, Panya Chupanich, deputy permanent secretary at the ministry, joined a video conference with Wendy Yamazaki, Asia head of government relations at Royal Caribbean Group, and representatives of the Port Authority of Thailand.
The talks focused on practical cooperation between the state and the company in planning and running future facilities. Both sides used the meeting to clarify expectations on service levels and infrastructure needs.
PPP model to add speed and funding
The terminal projects were to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model so private investors could share financing and implementation. This approach was intended to reduce pressure on public budgets while accelerating construction.
According to Panya Chupanich, infrastructure expansion would be
“accelerated because the market for cruise tourism is growing and state capacities alone are not sufficient to keep up.”
said Panya Chupanich, deputy permanent secretary at the Transport Ministry. The ministry signalled that private capital and expertise were crucial to meeting demand from global cruise lines.
Key locations under consideration
The ministry identified Koh Samui and Phuket as key locations, along with the upper Gulf of Thailand, to build a network of terminals on both coasts. These sites were seen as strategically placed to support multiple regional cruise itineraries.
For the upper Gulf, feasibility studies were under way to assess a suitable location between Pattaya and Sattahip. The aim was to improve integration into international routes by offering another deep-water option for large ships.
Royal Caribbean plans 45 calls and 120,000 guests
The talks underscored, according to the ministry, the importance of the Thai market for Royal Caribbean Group, which operated a global fleet of 69 ships. The company viewed Thailand as a key stop in its Asian deployment.
For this year, Royal Caribbean calculated more than 45 cruise calls in Thailand and expected around 120,000 international visitors arriving by ship. Officials linked these projections to the urgency of expanding terminals and upgrading port services.
Bottlenecks for large ships remain a choke point
Both sides acknowledged that rapid growth was hitting limits because suitable port facilities for large, “world-class” cruise ships were lacking. Existing infrastructure could not fully accommodate the size and volume of modern vessels.
The discussions therefore centred on solutions to increase terminal capacity and raise operating standards. The goal was to make port calls smoother and more predictable for cruise operators and passengers alike.
Laem Chabang packaged for investors
To guide investors, the ministry planned to compile development plans for Laem Chabang port and other locations with strong potential. These packages were meant to highlight commercial opportunities in cruise-related infrastructure.
At the same time, clear project timelines were to be drawn up and shared with Royal Caribbean and interested financiers. Officials expected that greater visibility on schedules would make planning and investment decisions easier for the private sector.