Koh Tao Breaks Tourism Record with One-Day Influx

A record-breaking number of visitors are said to have arrived on Koh Tao island on July 28. The Provincial Governor of Surat Thani, Wichuwat Jinto, announced good news earlier today.

Koh Tao, the smallest of the three primary southern Gulf of Thailand islands, received 3,106 tourists via boats on the same day. This influx signified the commencement of a six-day holiday mandated by the government, which concluded on August 2. According to the provincial governor, this turnout was exceptional in the island’s history.

Surprisingly approximately 90% of the passengers were international tourists, many of whom were presumably on their way to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party. This renowned event is scheduled on Haad Rin Beach on August 3, a day later than planned due to the double Buddha Days, during which alcohol is prohibited.

Koh Samui, the largest of the three islands, witnessed an influx of visitors simultaneously. According to reports, roughly 141,454 visitors used the island’s airport in July.

August projections show that this number will increase by nearly 30,000, resulting in 171,834 visitors. These projections are based on the number of hotel reservations. In addition to air travel, additional tourists were anticipated to arrive via ferry or speedboat from the mainland, Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao.

Ratchaporn Poonsawat, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, raised concern over the lack of available flights to accommodate the influx of tourists who had already reserved a room. This restriction led to cancellations.

During peak season, Ratchaporn disclosed that the organization has reached out to airlines with requests to increase the daily number of flights to as many as 50. If implemented, these actions would presumably bring approximately five billion baht into Samui, Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao’s economies.

During a prior tourism surge in April, the province of Surat Thani in Thailand welcomed more than 90,000 visitors during the Songkran festival. From April 13 -16, more than 67,000 international tourists and 23,000 Thai tourists visited the southern province, according to Surat Thani Governor Vichawut Jintoe.

SOURCE: Thaiger

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