Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia plan to open a new maritime route to connect the islands of Trat, Thailand with Kien Giang, Vietnam, and Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The goal is to boost trade, investment, tourism, and the MICE industry (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions).
This initiative was discussed at the CVTEC-Trat Business Roadshow 2024, led by the Governor of Trat, Natthapong Sanguanjit, and involved representatives from six provinces across the three countries, as well as TCT President Chamnan Srisawat and Senior Vice President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) Puripan Bunnag.
TCT and TCEB are currently expediting the organization of the CVTEC conference to promote the new maritime route connecting Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. This route is expected to create "One Market, Three Destinations" by fostering trade, investment, tourism, and the MICE industry. Additionally, the route will be a tourist attraction due to the natural beauty and cultural richness it offers.
To strengthen cooperation, representatives from the private and public sectors of Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance trade, investment, tourism, and the MICE industry along the new maritime route. TCEB is optimistic that Thailand is ready for this project, and if successful, tourists can travel from Pattaya to Laem Chabang, Trat, Sihanoukville, and Kien Giang, and vice versa.
The target is to open this sea route during the peak tourist season in November this year. This route is expected to become a new tourist attraction, with Phu Quoc, the largest island in southern Vietnam known for its natural beauty, as one of the destinations.
