TRAT, THAILAND – Rising fuel prices in the tourism province of Trat put ferries and minibus services under pressure, raising fears of higher fares and reduced schedules.
One baht more, immediate pressure
Ferry manager Atthaphon Klinthub said even a small increase in fuel costs quickly hit operators. He explained that a rise of just 1 baht per liter already had a massive impact on expenses for a large company.
According to his figures, Boonsiri High-Speed Ferries used 4,000 to 5,000 liters of fuel per day. A single passenger ferry consumed about 600 liters per trip, or 1,200 liters for a round journey.
Costly wholesale fuel, cheaper pump prices
Boonsiri was currently buying fuel directly from refineries at 37 baht per liter and received no state support, Atthaphon said. At the same time, prices at regular petrol stations stood at around 30 to 31 baht per liter.
This gap raised questions in the industry about market mechanisms and potential government assistance. Operators were increasingly asking why wholesale purchases were more expensive than fuel at the pump.
Saving measures and the threat of higher fares
To reduce costs, the company had its buses and vans refuel at normal filling stations instead of using higher-priced supply channels. This was one of the few immediate ways to limit the burden from fuel.
If high prices persisted, the firm would have to consider fare hikes, Atthaphon indicated. He stressed that the company initially wanted to “freeze” ticket prices as far as possible so as not to put additional strain on tourism.
Government freezes prices until 17 March
As the most important step so far, operators pointed to the state plan to stabilize diesel and petrol prices until 17 March. This measure was intended to prevent a sudden escalation in transport costs.
From the companies’ perspective, however, this was not enough. They were floating further options such as direct subsidies, tax relief or interest-rate reductions to keep services running on key tourism routes.
Fewer arrivals due to Middle East flight cancellations
On top of fuel costs, Trat was also feeling a decline in foreign arrivals, Atthaphon said. The impact was strongest among travelers who had planned to fly via the Middle East and were affected by flight cancellations.
Those who had to rebook often paid more or shortened their stay. This reduced the willingness to come at all or to remain in the area for longer periods, weakening demand for ferry connections to Koh Kood and Koh Mak.
Bangkok–Trat minibuses under tight margins
Minibus operator Rinlapas Saksomboon, who runs services on the Bangkok–Trat route, also reported heavy fuel consumption. Her fleet used around 70,000 liters per month, or roughly 2,300 liters per day.
She said operations were still viable at a diesel price of 30 to 31 baht per liter. Once the price reached 35 baht, however, the situation became critical because the passenger fare was fixed at 290 baht per person.
Fewer trips as last remaining lever
As the only short-term option to cut expenses, Rinlapas cited reducing the number of trips on the route. Fewer services would lower fuel use but also limit capacity for passengers.
She expected the government to reassess the situation soon. Subsidies for affected operators would be a positive signal, she said, although it remained unclear whether any support would ultimately be sufficient.