Phuket Revives Sea Taxi Plan Linking Airport with West Coast Beaches

Phuket authorities have resumed work on a proposed sea taxi service connecting Phuket International Airport with beaches along the island’s west coast. Nearly ten months after the project’s first test run, officials are again addressing practical arrangements, including passenger information and ticket counters at the airport and possible exemptions from fees at Sirinat National Park.

The Phuket Provincial Public Relations Office, known as PR Phuket, announced the renewed discussions on October 13. The project is being pursued under the leadership of Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom and is intended to provide an alternative transport option that could help ease pressure on the island’s roads.

The previous public update on the initiative was issued in December 2025, when Phuket was led by Governor Nirat Phongsitthavorn.

Airport facilities and ticket sales under discussion

According to PR Phuket, the Phuket office of the Marine Department has asked Phuket International Airport management, part of Airports of Thailand (AOT), to allocate space for information about sea taxi routes, passenger service counters and ticket sales.

The proposed locations include both the international and domestic terminals, as well as the connecting passage between them. If approved, the facilities would allow arriving passengers to learn about the service and purchase tickets directly at the airport.

The arrangements have not yet been finalised, and the airport’s approval remains pending.

Request for exemptions at Sirinat National Park

A second part of the discussions concerns Sirinat National Park, where passenger boarding operations are expected to take place.

The Marine Department has proposed exempting sea taxi passengers and service staff from national park entrance fees. It has also requested that vessels participating in the project be exempt from charges for entering and mooring at the relevant locations.

These proposals are being considered in coordination with the Department of National Parks (DNP). PR Phuket stressed that both the airport arrangements and the requested fee exemptions remain subject to approval.

The latest announcement provides no launch date or ticket prices. It also does not explain what other issues must be resolved before the service can begin operating.

A pilot trip took place in December 2025

Plans for a sea taxi route linking the airport with Kamala and Patong were announced several times in 2025. The pilot was initially scheduled for November 15, then postponed to December 15, before finally taking place on December 29.

Following an inspection, Adun Ralikmun, head of the Phuket Marine Department office, said the vessels and piers were sufficiently prepared for pilot operations.

The trial involved government representatives as well as members of Phuket’s established business community. Among the participants were Montawi Hongyok and Waitat Upatising, who had previously been involved in launching the Phuket Smart Bus service.

However, the latest PR Phuket announcement does not report the outcome of the December trial or clarify how its findings have influenced the project’s next steps.

For now, the sea taxi initiative remains under discussion, with key operational arrangements still awaiting approval and no confirmed date for the start of regular services.