More ferry routes plan for the Gulf
- April 28, 2008
New ferry routes will be introduced in the Gulf of Thailand and along
Bangkok's canals under a plan drawn up by the Transport and Tourism and
Sports ministries. Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemart and Tourism
and Sports Minister Weerasak Kohsurat, both from the Chart Thai party, said
that if implemented, the plan would feature new ferry routes in the Gulf to
serve both passengers and cargo, the development of ports along its coasts,
the zoning of beaches and upgrading tourism services on Bangkok's canals.
According to Mr Anurak, there will be six projects to serve their idea.
Firstly, both ministries will push for concessions for ships that will ply
between the towns on the east and western coasts of the Gulf.
That should reduce the need for cargo trucks seen as a source of bottlenecks
on the south-bound highway in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces.
This should greatly improve the traffic situation and in turn benefit tour
buses and passenger cars in the upper Gulf.
Secondly, the ministries will promote the use of speedboats, such as
hydrofoils, to ply between the eastern and western coasts of the Gulf and
between the region's tourist destinations.
Recommended routes are Ko Chang to Ko Samui, Puek Tien to Laem Chabang, Hua
Hin to Pattaya, and Cha-am to Chanthaburi.
Thirdly, the ministries will promote waterway tourism in the Chao Phraya
river in Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan provinces.
Such activities in canals around the historical Rattanakosin island,
including the Phadung Krungkasem canal, would also be encouraged.
On top of that, beaches in tourist towns would be zoned for water sports and
to offer natural retreats.
The plan also includes the setting up of more marinas and floating markets.
''Although the Transport Ministry is the one which supervises the ports, it
does not know how to promote them. The Tourism and Sports Ministry knows
very well how to do that, but can't do it without their cooperation.
''As the ministers of both ministries are from the same party, we can talk.
With their cooperation, I expect a new era of waterway tourism,'' Mr Anurak
said.
Both ministries will form a joint committee to work out the details of the
six projects.
Wanchai Sarathulthat, former permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry
and the current chairman of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), will
head a committee that will include representatives from the TAT, the Marine
Department and the Transport Ministry.
Supoj Saplom, director-general of the Rural Roads Department, said a ''Thai
riviera'' project proposed by his department would help support the
ministries' projects as it called for road improvements for a combined
distance of 615km along the western coast of the Gulf of Thailand.
If all goes according to plan, the riviera project will connect over 100
tourist destinations in Chumphon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and
Ranong provinces.
The department has finished the design of the riviera and is now awaiting
its environmental impact assessment report. It will take nine years and an
estimated budget of 6.89 billion baht to complete. It will begin with the
construction of 81 routes, worth 300 million baht, in the first phase next
year.
Mr Supoj said the road project was proposed so that it could be adjusted to
bring improvements to ports along the coast
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