Thai government relying on cruise ships to boost tourism

Thursday, March 2, 2023

The Thai government is depending on the cruise ships to propel the recovery of the country’s tourism sector, which will also be boosted by cooperation with Netflix in launching a creative travel guide to destinations that are featured in movies, said a Thai tourism spokesperson.

Anucha Burapachaisri, who is the deputy secretary-general to the Thai prime minister, said that cruises are among the most prevalent types of tourism, and the global market for the same is increasing at a rapid rate.

All through the October to March peak season, cruise ships with a capacity of average 1,800-2,400 passengers made a day’s halt in Thailand, said Mr. Anucha, as per available info from the country’s tourism ministry.

These passengers were high-spending tourists, with a spending capacity of 4-10 times compared to other visitors, with a penchant for boat trips, cultural shows, Thai food, spas and collecting souvenirs. Thailand has revamped its ports to house cruise liners, causing an increase in the number of ships visiting the country, said the spokesperson.

The Thai government is optimistic that cruise ships would grow tourism revenue. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, earnings from cruise ships reached 4.84 billion baht.

The travel guide would throw light on destinations that are highlighted in popular films and shows in Thailand and outside on Netflix, said Mr. Anucha, and boost Thai culture at the same time. He hopes that this would attract more tourists, especially movie enthusiasts.

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