Star Cruises, the third-largest cruise line in the world, will use Laem Chabang as the home port for its SuperStar Gemini liner in a move set to support the country's maritime tourism business.
The Hong Kong-based cruise line yesterday announced it will base SuperStar Gemini at the Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chon Buri for five months, from Dec 17, 2017 to April 27, 2018.
Thai Travel Agents Association president Suparerk Soorangura said using Thailand as the home port for the vessel will benefit the tourism industry, as it will encourage international travellers to spend their money in the country while exposing the deep-sea port to regional communities.
"Thailand should make more of an effort to improve its maritime ports and entice more commercial cruises to use their services. This will support the government's scheme of enhancing Thailand's capacity to serve maritime tourism this year," he said.
The coming of SuperStar Gemini is forecast to benefit Thai tourism in the long term as the country will be a sourcing market and destination for maritime tourism in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.
"Thailand should also implement a good immigration process for cruise tourists in order to compete with other countries in the region," said Mr Suparerk.
Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Vietnam are current leaders for maritime tourism in the Asia-Pacific region.
Star Cruises president Ang Moo Lim said he was excited to be at Laem Chabang as the cruise company had previously been in Phuket in 1995 and received good feedback from international travellers.
Thailand is one of the fastest-growing tourism industries in Asia-Pacific, while the region is also considered one of the fastest-growing cruise industry markets.
While in Laem Chabang, SuperStar Gemini will offer three packages including a three-night cruise to Sihanoukville, Cambodia and Koh Samui and a two-night cruise to Sihanoukville and Koh Kong in Cambodia.
The cruises will range from 8,900 to 12,900 baht per person.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand forecast the country will welcome 8.02 million international travellers in the second quarter of this year, up 6% year-on-year.