Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing new ports for cruise ships in Thailand. I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, that's bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Bt7.4 billion Pattaya cruise port promoted. Quoting directly: "The Marine Department will ask the new Cabinet to approve its plan to build a Bt7.4 billion Baht port in Pattaya that will be able to accommodate two large size cruise liners. At present, cruise ships dock at Bangkok and Laem Chabang Port which are actually container terminals, so they lack the conveniences of a proper cruise terminal. Similar projects are being considered in Koh Samui and Krabi as the demand for cruise tourism is rising globally. Asia and Thailand have emerged as the top destinations of cruise travellers. Several Cruise Line operators and related businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore have expressed their interest in the project."

Yeah, really interesting stuff here. I think this could be really, really good long term for Thailand. This is just yet another one of these things that sort of interacts with the kind of business nexus of the Eastern Economic Corridor, again notably Laem Chabang Port is mentioned in there. But Laem Chabang is a port, it is a true port facility; it's for goods basically; it is for disembarkation of goods more than anything. But to have an actual cruise terminal port placed in Pattaya, that is a great idea. I think that could have tremendous long-term benefits, significant long-term benefits for tourists looking to come to Thailand and as a jumping off point for cruise tourism. That has tremendous benefits for the place where the jumping off point is located. So for example, Florida and Louisiana as an example back in the United States are often times jumping off points for cruise facilities going in the Caribbean and the gulf or down along the Mexican Riviera. Again that has a major substantial tax benefit and employment benefit, just general economic benefit to those jumping off points.

So again, if Thailand can gain something similar in coming up with a cruise port facility especially down in the EEZ, I think, or EEC I should say, which EZ is an Economic Zone, EEC is the Eastern Economic Corridor which as we have discussed is this Corridor that has been created with certain special business advantages down in Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong. So again, this could be substantial. I really can't express how exciting this could be so I really hope we see progress on this and we will certainly keep you updated on this channel as that situation evolves.