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Koh Samui Cruise Terminal: Opening Now Planned for 2032
· Luxy Samui
Thailand's Transport Ministry is moving ahead with a 12.17 billion baht cruise terminal in Taling Ngam, with opening planned for 2032.
Thailand's Transport Ministry is moving forward with a cruise ship terminal on Koh Samui. According to Thailand Construction News on 20 July 2026, the project is valued at 12.17 billion baht. The target is cabinet approval in 2027, a tender in 2028 and an opening in 2032. The terminal is still a plan, and the schedule has already moved once.
Where and how big
The chosen site is Laem Hin Khom, in Taling Ngam sub-district, on the south-west coast of Koh Samui. The Marine Department is in charge of the project. The terminal would cover 47 rai: 15 rai on land and 32 rai offshore. Permission from the Royal Forest Department is needed for the land.
- Planned capacity: 200,000 to 400,000 visitors a year.
- Expected ship visits: about 240 calls a year.
- Operating period for the private partner: 30 years.
Travel trade publisher Explera says the site was chosen because it is naturally sheltered from swell, close to deep water and has land available.
Who pays
The project is designed as a public-private partnership. The state would invest only about 148.58 million baht. A private company would invest about 12.02 billion baht: 6.27 billion baht for construction and equipment, and 5.75 billion baht for systems, operation and maintenance. The study expects about 46 billion baht of economic value over 30 years, with an economic return above 15 percent.
Why the date has slipped
Explera reported on 27 August 2026 that the Public-Private Partnership Policy Committee asked for the environmental and health impact assessment to be submitted again. This has pushed the timetable back. In its account, construction would start in 2029 and operations in 2032, after cabinet approval in 2027 and a tender in 2028.
How cruise ships visit today
Cruise ships already call at Koh Samui. The CruiseMapper port page lists Nathon as the island's main port for these visits. It states that about 50,000 cruise tourists came to the island in 2023. A dedicated terminal would be a large step up from that level.
What it means for villa owners
There is no effect on the island in the short term. The terminal would not open before 2032, and it still needs cabinet approval and a private investor. If it goes ahead, the south-west of Koh Samui would see more day visitors, more traffic on the roads from Taling Ngam and several years of building work. Cruise passengers stay on their ship, so they are not villa guests. The main effects for owners would be on local traffic, noise during construction and, over time, the character of that part of the coast. Read more about villa management in Koh Samui.
