Cruise ship brings over 2,000 European tourists to Koh Samui and Chon Buri
A cruise ship brought over 2,000 European tourists to Thailand’s lush holiday paradise of Koh Samui, before heading to Chon Buri province.
The 2,409 tourists and 924 crew members arrived at Koh Samui‘s Na Thon Pier on Saturday on a Mein Schiff 5 cruise ship. The tourists would enjoy a one-day trip before heading to Sri Racha district of Chon Buri province. Samui officials said the trip generated at least 5 million baht.
During their visit, the tourists had the opportunity to venture around the island. They visited an elephant camp, temples, beaches, local businesses, and rubber-tapping farms, The Phuket Express reported. Some also visited the nearby Ang Thong Islands, known for their stunning natural beauty.
According to Samui officials, the one-day trip generated at least five million baht for the local economy. The cruise ship departed from Samui Island at 6pm, heading to Laem Chabang Pier in Sri Racha.
Koh Samui has seen a few cruises with German cruise liner Mein Schiff 5 recently. Last month, the Mein Schiff 5 dropped 3,000 tourists on Koh Samui for a bit of shopping and sightseeing. The ship carried European tourists who had begun their cruise in Singapore before going to Vietnam and then to Koh Samui.
Over 200,000 tourists visited the island in January, making a strong comeback from the stagnated arrivals during the Covid pandemic. Surat Thani’s governor, Wichawut Jinto, said that 86,507 tourists arrived by air on the island, while 91,570 arrived by boat.
However, such trips ashore by cruise ship passengers, such as those on the Mein Schiff 5, brought tourism numbers to over 200,000.
The number of tourists that visited South Thailand’s Surat Thani province last year jumped by over 600% from 2021, according to officials. The province includes the holiday paradise islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao.
