People on Samui Island extended a warm welcome to 600 passengers and 400 crew today (Sunday), from the first cruise ship to dock at the resort island in the Gulf of Thailand in three years, a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

District chief officer Chayaphol Intarasupha and representatives of tourism businesses were on hand at Na Thorn pier to welcome the MV Viking from Singapore.

The visitors were treated to a Nora southern traditional dance performance and other cultural shows, arranged by the tourism businesses and the local office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).  Police were also deployed at various locations on the island to ensure safety and convenience for the visitors.

Supakan Yodchun, the director of the local TAT office, said that more cruise ships are expected to visit the islands of Samui, Pha-ngan and Tao in December and during next year,which will help boost the local economy and generate revenue.