Thailand moots Pattaya-Cha Am ferry service
The Thai government has unveiled tentative plans for a scheduled ferry service across the Gulf of Thailand connecting the tourist towns of Pattaya with Cha Am.
Although no detailed information have been announced yet, deputy transport minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said it would boost tourism as tourists could easily visit both destinations as the travel time would be cut by half compared to the overland route.
The Thai tourism and sports ministry is pushing to expand sea routes throughout Thailand both domestically and internationally, and last week announced plans for construction of two new cruise line terminals in Krabi and Surat Thani.
Thailand has three cruise ports in Phuket, Bangkok and Laem Chabang, and attracts about 100,000 cruise passengers a year which is only a tiny fraction of the more than 20 million visitors who come to Thailand each year.
Many of the larger cruise ships entering Thai waters have to dock at cargo ports due to lack of adequate cruise port facilities.
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