Deserted beaches, empty bars: Covid-19 devastates Thailand's tourist islands

Visitor numbers expected to plummet by tens of millions in crisis that eclipses the 2004 tsunami, bird flu and Sars

Rebecca Ratcliffe in Chaweng

 

Koh Samui’s beaches are almost entirely devoid of people since the coronavirus pandemic began. Last year, 40 million tourists visited Thailand. Photograph: Marco Pompeo Photography/Alamy Stock Photo

 

The streets of Koh Samui, one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations, are eerily quiet. Along Chaweng’s Beach Road, a usually raucous party area, shuttered shops stretch into the distance.

 

Before the coronavirus pandemic, it was buzzing with traffic. Now, taxi drivers sit on the roadside, with little hope of finding customers. Where bikini-clad sunseekers once browsed souvenir shops and drank at neon-lit bars, a lone street dog stretches on the pavement. Elsewhere, swathes of Samui’s idyllic, sandy white beaches are almost entirely free of people.

 

About 40 million tourists flocked to Thailand last year, drawn by its spectacular coastlines, ornate temples and famous cuisine. Yet in 2020, the country will struggle to attract even a quarter of that number, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

 

Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/deserted-beaches-empty-bars-covid-19-devastates-thailands-tourist-islands

 

-- The Guardian 2010-07-23

not according to our business owning, island reclining, members..

 

"business is booming they say, Booooming!"

 

????

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

Koh Samui’s beaches are almost entirely devoid of people since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Yeah, but you can bet if 1 tourist sits down, 50 walking beach vendors will jump out of that greenery offering massages , Ice creams , fried sea food and a carved wooden elephant

Hmm... all like private beach

 Walk alone....

and yet, these same business owners are not allowed to advertise the fact that they sell alcohol. They also can't offer any special offers on alcohol that might encourage their customers to buy more.

 

It is beyond redonkulous!

Hard not to adopt a very selfish attitude to this..........and enjoy the moment whilst it lasts.

 

Currently living in and loving Bangkok......half the bars and restaurants are closed, the half that are open are offering extended happy hours, deals and discounted prices. Streets are 'empty', pavements walkable....what is not to like......I seem quite popular in every bar I walk into!!

 

Sorry for the Thais though....tough, very tough time.

9 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

happy hours, deals and discounted prices

But, but, but ............ this is against the law, and is punishable by a fine of 50,000 baht!  (if ur Japanese) ????

2 minutes ago, thequietman said:

But, but, but ............ this is against the law, and is punishable by a fine of 50,000 baht!  (if ur Japanese) ????

Seriously? ....and what is the Japanese ref? Guess I have missed something.

 

maybe this is the best way for them to appreciate our contribution to their business....in the past some of them took advantage of many of us, now they have nobody, they should start to think that after will the foreigners living in are not bad and should be treated with respect..... or maybe I am giving them too much credit  555

2 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Seriously? ....and what is the Japanese ref? Guess I have missed something.

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1174248-japanese-restaurant-fined-bt50000-for-promoting-alcohol/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-15642498

Just now, thequietman said:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1174248-japanese-restaurant-fined-bt50000-for-promoting-alcohol/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-15642498

Cheers...

2 minutes ago, thequietman said:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1174248-japanese-restaurant-fined-bt50000-for-promoting-alcohol/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-15642498

Every bar around here would get done....but as you point out they are not Japanese and are probably paying their tea money on time. Scandalous .

Now we can find out who's really dropping all the rubbish?????????????

Koh Samui is dead .... no tourists are coming and all the bars and shops are closed. So no tourists means no money for the business then no job. It's the same in most places around Thailand and probably won't change much even in the months ahead.

15 hours ago, Mavideol said:

they should start to think that after will the foreigners living in are not bad and should be treated with respect..... or maybe I am giving them too much credit  555

 

I think it's the latter, not the former....  

 

Just wait until the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans return.... however many years that may be into the future.

 

Good for the wildlife.

Pristine beaches again.

Shocking who would have thought the ever continuing elongated draconian measures imposed by a sham government could have such an effect????

16 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

maybe this is the best way for them to appreciate our contribution to their business....in the past some of them took advantage of many of us, now they have nobody, they should start to think that after will the foreigners living in are not bad and should be treated with respect..... or maybe I am giving them too much credit  555

Talk to walls, if you think for a moment that they care how they had it all and now nothing...

I think Koh Samui is suffering more than other destinations because its very much a foreigner only tourist destination.

 

Other places in Thailand still have the domestic tourism component and its alive and well in some locations. I was out at Koh Larn (Pattaya) the other day and it was very busy, Thais doing domestic tourism. The same at Jomtien beach, more Thais than I have ever seen, eating drinking, banana boat rides. 

 

The places that are surviving, maybe even profiting, are the place s that cater for the Thai economy, Thai goods and services for Thais at Thai prices.

3-4 years (if we're lucky) before it remotely returns to normal so get used to it

35 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Koh Samui is dead .... no tourists are coming and all the bars and shops are closed. So no tourists means no money for the business then no job. It's the same in most places around Thailand and probably won't change much even in the months ahead.

Another topic about Samui being dead and you again huh :-) 

 

No, not all the bars and shops are closed. The majority have reopened. 90% of the restaurants ive eaten at didn't even close, just switched to takeaway for a short period. Sure, there's much less activity along the beach roads, but if you look beyond the completely dead Chaweng, life goes on. 

 

I feel like ive said this a hundred times already. Samui is NOT just Chaweng, far from it. In fact, thank god that hellhole is dead now. 

 

At the Thai food restaurant where i order my takeaway food, there's rarely less than 5 tables occupied. 

 

I keep seeing this French guy called Thomas renting his jetski daily on different beaches. 2, 3, 4 jetskis for several hour trips and he doesn't seem to lack demand. 

 

Makro in the evenings is quite packed. Yesterday i was hard pressed to find a parking spot at HomePro. 

 

Life goes on, and yeah, empty beaches are so nice. 

1 hour ago, Mavideol said:

maybe this is the best way for them to appreciate our contribution to their business....in the past some of them took advantage of many of us, now they have nobody, they should start to think that after will the foreigners living in are not bad and should be treated with respect..... or maybe I am giving them too much credit  555

Way  too much credit, never  learn never  will.

If Koh Samui is so dead why are so many hotel prices astronomically high? 

 

We have been looking into a few days excursion from BKK in August and rates at top-end hotels are through the roof! (Some are heavily discounted, but many no discount at all)

 

Normally we would go to Bali (wedding anniversary, we were married there), but don't have that option now.

 

I get that would normally be high season on Samui, but seriously? I guess trying to keep prices high to offset the low volume (reverse polish logic).

 

Have also looked at BKK hotels and they ain't cheap either (I am talking about 5 star in both cases). 

2 hours ago, 2 is 1 said:

Hmm... all like private beach

 Walk alone....

Selfie?

35 minutes ago, eppic said:

If Koh Samui is so dead why are so many hotel prices astronomically high? 

Thai economics 101 - When empty, put UP the prices. That way, we make the same money, but with less people.

 

Unfortunately, they don't factor in the fact that people wont book in the first place cause prices are too high. ????

38 minutes ago, eppic said:

If Koh Samui is so dead why are so many hotel prices astronomically high? 

 

We have been looking into a few days excursion from BKK in August and rates at top-end hotels are through the roof! (Some are heavily discounted, but many no discount at all)

 

Normally we would go to Bali (wedding anniversary, we were married there), but don't have that option now.

 

I get that would normally be high season on Samui, but seriously? I guess trying to keep prices high to offset the low volume (reverse polish logic).

 

Have also looked at BKK hotels and they ain't cheap either (I am talking about 5 star in both cases). 

Most of the 5 star hotels are pretty full with domestic tourists. Same for a lot of Samui. Some trolls keep wanting Samui to be dead, but they are only looking at two villages that mostly cater for overseas visitors. Chaweng and maybe Lamai.

The other villages where we all live, are doing Ok. My business is very busy (villa management) with lots of domestic tourists. Villa rental prices have dropped significantly so Samui is suddenly affordable to Thais.

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

Koh Samui is dead .... no tourists are coming and all the bars and shops are closed. So no tourists means no money for the business then no job. It's the same in most places around Thailand and probably won't change much even in the months ahead.

do not fret steven. prayut will tackle this problem head on. i have the utmost faith that he will resolve this issue in no time. thai people know and appreciate the dedication he continues to show......... am i right ? 

9 minutes ago, mr mr said:

do not fret steven. prayut will tackle this problem head on. i have the utmost faith that he will resolve this issue in no time. thai people know and appreciate the dedication he continues to show......... am i right ? 

yes ....   100% ... 

1 hour ago, eppic said:

If Koh Samui is so dead why are so many hotel prices astronomically high? 

 

We have been looking into a few days excursion from BKK in August and rates at top-end hotels are through the roof! (Some are heavily discounted, but many no discount at all)

 

Normally we would go to Bali (wedding anniversary, we were married there), but don't have that option now.

 

I get that would normally be high season on Samui, but seriously? I guess trying to keep prices high to offset the low volume (reverse polish logic).

 

Have also looked at BKK hotels and they ain't cheap either (I am talking about 5 star in both cases). 

If you check resorts there are some discounts per night rooms available.  We've just booked a nice resort hotel on the beach 4 star, 2 rooms for Saturday.

On a positive note the Sealife has a chance to recover.