Koh Samui: Holiday island is in a "coma" on its last tourism legs

[webfact]

Koh Samui: Holiday island  is in a "coma" on its last tourism legs

 

Picture: Voice TV

 

Thai meadia Voice TV painted a grim picture of the tourism situation in the once thriving holiday island of Koh Samui saying it was in a coma. 

 

Koh Samui relied almost 100% on foreign tourists and with their absence has gone their income. 

 

It was 50 billion baht a year pre-Covid that was 95% of the island's total GDP. 

 

Right now only 150 of the 660 hotels are even open. Many have gone under and many are on their last legs.

 

Wirat Phonchabapnapha of the Pavillion Villa and Resort Hotel said that one of the big problems for hotels is the unwillingness of Thai banks to offer loans meaning that businesses can't repay debts. 

 

With many businesses being sold off to foreigners (principally Chinese) they are now being repossessed by Chinese banks. 

 

He said investors in places like Phuket and Samui are waiting in the wings to move in. He called on help from the Bank of Thailand to extend help regarding NPL or non-performing loans from three months to a year. 

 

Meanwhile the local tourism association and others have pointed out that the government's "Rao Thiaw Duay Gan" (let's travel together) stimulus package of 20 billion baht has barely helped Samui. 

 

It has been of benefit to places near large population densities, like Bangkok, and tourism areas like Chiang Mai where they are frequent and cheap flights. 

 

Nearby Nakhon Sri Thammarat on the mainland has benefited more than Samui with its "Ai Khai" attraction and ease of access. 

 

But the overriding thing that would help Samui is the return of foreign tourists.

 

The government needs to do everything they can to make that a reality and speeding up the availability and delivery of a vaccine for Covid-19 is one measure that will help. 

 

Source: Voice TV

 

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[JoePai]

like Chiang Mai where they are frequent and cheap flights. 

 

This along with being so expensive to stay (hotels'etc) is why Samui is suffering - tough, maybe they will learn

[RandolphGB]

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

With many businesses being sold off to foreigners (principally Chinese) they are now being repossessed by Chinese banks. 

All part of the plan, ladies and gentlemen.

[TSF]

"The government needs to do everything they can to make that a reality and speeding up the availability and delivery of a vaccine for Covid-19 is one measure that will help. "

 

Or drag it out as long as possible so the big boys can snap up all those beach front properties and resorts at rock bottom prices and make a killing when the post-covid tourism boom happens.

[Phuketshrew]

The expensive flight monopoly that Bangkok Airways has doesn't help. I just looked and the cheapest return flight BKK - USM is 4,460 baht. Add to that the still relatively expensive hotels and it is little wonder that holidaymakers are going elsewhere.

[Ron jeremy]

But locals on this forum tell of how great things are, never been better!????????????‍♂️

[AlfHuy]

Welcome to China.

[steelerian]

Koh Samui is in critical condition. I know. I live there and rely on tourists for my business also.

[ChipButty]

In a couple of months how many of them 150 hotels will have gone under? I always thought Samui was overpriced all that empty property going to waste after 3 months the jungle takes over, it's going to take some big investment to put it back on track maybe people dont think it's not worth it, 

Judging by video's and photo's people have posted the infrastructure needs a lot of work doing to it just to even bring it up to standard.

[kotsak]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

like Chiang Mai where they are frequent and cheap flights. 

 

This along with being so expensive to stay (hotels'etc) is why Samui is suffering - tough, maybe they will learn

History tells us that they never learn.. ????

[ChakaKhan]

36 minutes ago, AlfHuy said:

Welcome to China.

Ni Hao..i would like to welcome our new Overloards with the sharing of a mama cup...esp any cute chinese gals!

[ChipButty]

This was posted 1 day ago in Samui looks more like a Shanty town never mind ghost town

 

 

[philthebook]

Coco Tams which is one of the most expensive beach bars (250 baht + for a cocktail) was packed last weekend, they were turning people away at 18:30. 

 

 

[H1w4yR1da]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

It has been of benefit to places near large population densities, like Bangkok, and tourism areas like Chiang Mai where they are frequent and cheap flights. 

Bangkok Airways prices are horrendous. Definitely a problem for Samui but the Thais love their monopolies.

[Jeffr2]

1 hour ago, RandolphGB said:

All part of the plan, ladies and gentlemen.

Right, they planned everything.  Jeez....stunning some think this.

 

Samui, like a lot of Thailand, priced itself out of the tourist market for many.  Crazy to see rooms going for $150 and up, that are right next to empty lots with trash, down roads that are falling apart, on beaches with encroachment, etc. 

 

What do you expect?

[mr mr]

save samui and thailand.......free the weed. 

[Bangyai]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

He said investors in places like Phuket and Samui are waiting in the wings to move in.

 

Vultures waiting for their prey to die so they can pick over the carcass.

[spidermike007]

22 minutes ago, philthebook said:

Coco Tams which is one of the most expensive beach bars (250 baht + for a cocktail) was packed last weekend, they were turning people away at 18:30. 

 

 

 

There are a few places on the island, who are doing good marketing, and attracting crowds. This is by no means any indication of what is going on now, on Samui. The local people are suffering big time. 

[cyril sneer]

1 hour ago, Phuketshrew said:

The expensive flight monopoly that Bangkok Airways has doesn't help. I just looked and the cheapest return flight BKK - USM is 4,460 baht. Add to that the still relatively expensive hotels and it is little wonder that holidaymakers are going elsewhere.

they are to blame rather than covid imo

[spidermike007]

Samui and the southern islands have been devastated by the lack of tourists. The Thais have picked up some of the slack, due to the lack of foreigners and the low prices. They rarely ever set foot on Samui, in the past. That is helping a bit. But, the process of attrition is taking place, and more and more restaurants, hotels, shops and tourist related spots are closing every day. However, Samui had countless issues prior to Covid. The stunning lack of local pride, alot of rip offs, the exact same taxi mafia issues as Phuket, with zero ability on the part of any officials, much less the army, to address them (nobody likes paying 400 baht to go three or four km.), the Bangkok Air monopoly, etc. etc. None of those issues were being addressed, and the quality of tourist on Samui has been dropping for years now.

 

Shots from a recent trip to Samui. It is quite sad being there, and seeing what is happening, though many locals are correctly stating how much cleaner the island is now. Many of the massage shops have closed, most of the bars have closed, and hundreds and hundreds of restaurants and hotels have closed. I hear there are hundreds of hotels for sale, at 50% off. 

 

The longer they wait, the harder it will be to restore the industry. People have short memories. Thailand was already being forgotten by millions, before Covid, due to a dozen reasons. Now? Too many alternatives. This administration continues to see Thailand as the COTU (center of the universe). Say it ain't so! No humility seem to be getting learned as of now. The army needs to figure out a way to muster up some courage, and re-open the nation to tourism. There are many ways it can be done safely, and there will be some risk, but nothing like the risk of not opening, and remaining sealed off from the world, like early 19th century Japan. Not even close.
 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by spidermike007

[Peter Denis]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

...

Shots from a recent trip to Samui. It is quite sad being there, and seeing what is happening, though many locals are correctly stating how much cleaner the island is now.

Wow, a true ghost town!

[IraqRon]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

This was posted 1 day ago in Samui looks more like a Shanty town never mind ghost town

 

 

Most Thai cities/villages look like shanty towns to me.

[philthebook]

29 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Samui and the southern islands have been devastated by the lack of tourists. The Thais have picked up some of the slack, due to the lack of foreigners and the low prices. They rarely ever set foot on Samui, in the past. That is helping a bit. But, the process of attrition is taking place, and more and more restaurants, hotels, shops and tourist related spots are closing every day. However, Samui had countless issues prior to Covid. The stunning lack of local pride, alot of rip offs, the exact same taxi mafia issues as Phuket, with zero ability on the part of any officials, much less the army, to address them (nobody likes paying 400 baht to go three or four km.), the Bangkok Air monopoly, etc. etc. None of those issues were being addressed, and the quality of tourist on Samui has been dropping for years now.

 

Shots from a recent trip to Samui. It is quite sad being there, and seeing what is happening, though many locals are correctly stating how much cleaner the island is now. Many of the massage shops have closed, most of the bars have closed, and hundreds and hundreds of restaurants and hotels have closed. I hear there are hundreds of hotels for sale, at 50% off. 

 

The longer they wait, the harder it will be to restore the industry. People have short memories. Thailand was already being forgotten by millions, before Covid, due to a dozen reasons. Now? Too many alternatives. This administration continues to see Thailand as the COTU (center of the universe). Say it ain't so! No humility seem to be getting learned as of now. The army needs to figure out a way to muster up some courage, and re-open the nation to tourism. There are many ways it can be done safely, and there will be some risk, but nothing like the risk of not opening, and remaining sealed off from the world, like early 19th century Japan. Not even close.
 

 

 

 

Those photos are over 6 months old, it's looking a bit better now, at least the road has been fixed.

[GeorgeCross]

2 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

The expensive flight monopoly that Bangkok Airways has doesn't help. I just looked and the cheapest return flight BKK - USM is 4,460 baht. Add to that the still relatively expensive hotels and it is little wonder that holidaymakers are going elsewhere.

 

actually thats chep for them it used to be 10K+ return when i lived there ????

[spidermike007]

2 minutes ago, philthebook said:

 

Those photos are over 6 months old, it's looking a bit better now, at least the road has been fixed.

The photos with the green net in front, and the destroyed buildings was taken about 10 weeks ago. Not looking better according to several friends who live there. They tell me more and more places are closing daily. 

[AlfHuy]

10 minutes ago, philthebook said:

 

Those photos are over 6 months old, it's looking a bit better now, at least the road has been fixed.

And more dogs now.

[LivinLOS]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He said investors in places like Phuket and Samui are waiting in the wings to move in.

There you go then.. problem solved.. 

So long.. Thanks.. and Bye.. 

 

[Changoverandout]

1 hour ago, philthebook said:

 

Those photos are over 6 months old, it's looking a bit better now, at least the road has been fixed.

 

I hope so, my wife and I are going t Mae Nam next month.

First time to Samui.

 

As we don’t particularly like crowds of tourists it should be fine as long as some restaurants are open.

[LivinLOS]

If its in such freefall.. Do feel free to tag me or PM any fire sale villas, because I am not yet seeing much that looks like panic sale bargains. 

Personally prefer Lamai and south.. Leam Set to Taling Ngam.. Places that still feel coconut tree and island'y..  Or even hillside in the Na Muang zone... More than the bophut, chaweng, Choeng Mon, over developed messes.. 

But lets see the bargains ?? anywhere... say 8 - 20 mil.. So far all I see is the same listings, for breeze block 'villas' on 400m of land still asking 12 / 15 / more.. 

Sure theres some cheap rents, with unlikely renewal rates next year.. But not like 08 crisis sales.. 

[firestar]

People take the SAME pictures of Chaweng beach road over and over again, yes that road is deserted not only because of Covid but because they are digging it up to bury the power lines other places like Fisherman are quite busy.

 

Also I am looking for Hotels for sale and have found no more than 5 or 6 and none in good areas. It is bad but not as bad as it is made it out to be

 

 

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Edited December 18, 2020 by firestar