Songkhla vies for big spenders with cruise plan

Songkhla Chamber of Commerce has proposed a cruise port to draw Western high spenders while continuing to attract traditional visitors like Malay-sians and Singaporeans for tourism.

- ASSAWIN PAKKAWAN

In the proposal to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during her visit to the province in February, the Marine Department would design the cruise port with a government budget, said Songphon Changsirivattanakul, chairman of Songkhla Tourism Board.

Without its own port, Songkhla, situated in the south of Thailand facing the Gulf of Thailand to the east, has missed the opportunity to create revenue, particularly among cruise lines travelling from Singapore, he said.