PATTAYA, THAILAND – Thailand’s Marine Department moved ahead with plans to demolish and rebuild the main pier on Koh Larn to improve capacity, safety and travel flow for tourists.
New pier plans for Koh Larn
The Marine Department planned to tear down the existing pier on Koh Larn and replace it with a new structure. The project aimed to modernize the connection between Pattaya and the island for both domestic and international visitors.
Officials said the works were intended to bring maritime infrastructure up to a contemporary standard. They referred to an overall improvement in the travel experience for passengers using the route.
Why the old pier was set to be replaced
According to those responsible, the current pier showed clear signs of wear and had begun to deteriorate. As a result, it met the demands of ongoing operations less and less effectively.
They reported that bottlenecks occurred particularly when visitor numbers were high. During peak travel periods, the facility was said to be reaching its capacity limits.
More capacity and less crowding
The new structure was designed to increase capacity for passenger boats using the route. This was expected to allow more travelers to move efficiently between Pattaya and Koh Larn.
At the same time, authorities anticipated fewer queues and congestion at the pier. This was intended to ease processes for boarding and disembarking, as well as ticketing and waiting.
International standards and comfort
Planners stated that the new facility was to comply with modern, international standards. Beyond capacity, the focus was also on the quality of the infrastructure itself.
Improvements in organization and equipment were expected to increase comfort for travelers. This particularly concerned handling during periods of heavy use.
Safety in water transport
Authorities explicitly linked the reconstruction to safety in water transport. A modern pier was intended to strengthen confidence in the use of boats and ferries on the route.
In the long term, this was meant to position Koh Larn as a reliable excursion destination. Those in charge assumed that enhanced infrastructure would further increase the attractiveness of the connection.
Tourism and the local economy
Beyond the construction works themselves, expectations were that the measure would bolster Pattaya’s image as a tourist destination. The project was seen in the context of the recovery of the wider tourism sector.
Increased capacity and smoother operations were also expected to benefit local businesses. Among those mentioned were tour operators, shops and service providers on Koh Larn.