Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has given the green light to a significant project today, authorizing the development of a cruise ship terminal on Samui Island. The terminal, expected to accommodate up to 120 cruise ships annually, holds the potential to generate approximately eight billion baht in revenue.
During his visit to Samui Island, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin not only granted approval for the project but also issued directives to the Transport Ministry. He instructed them to collaborate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as the Surat Thani provincial administration, in crafting a detailed plan for the terminal’s implementation. This plan is slated for submission to the cabinet later this year.
The prime minister’s visit to Samui Island included an inspection of the proposed terminal site, along with discussions with local business operators and officials. The discussions encompassed key issues faced by the island, notably waste management. This visit forms part of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s three-day inspection trip to Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces.
Srettha highlighted that Samui Island is among ten destinations in Asia visited by cruise ships. However, the lack of a suitable terminal has led to some cruise ships bypassing the island altogether. To address this, the proposed terminal will be constructed in Laem Hin Khom of Taling Ngam sub-district on the island.
With an estimated cost of 12 billion baht, the project is anticipated to attract more high-spending tourists to the island. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin emphasized the economic benefits associated with cruise ship visits.
During his island visit, the prime minister sampled Kaeng Tai Pla, a traditional southern dish recently named the world’s worst dish by the TasteAtlas online platform. Despite this, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed his appreciation for the dish, describing it as “very delicious.” However, he acknowledged that foreigners may have differing tastes and should not be criticized for their preferences.
Kaeng Tai Pla is renowned for its rich and aromatic fish curry, featuring fermented fish entrails and a spicy curry paste comprising chili peppers, galangal, shrimp paste, turmeric, shallots, and lemongrass.
