Tourism booming in Koh Chang - Thais head north but foreigners make for rosy outlook into 2023

[webfact]

Picture: Naew Na

 

Naew Na reported from the holiday island of Koh Chang in Trat where they said that 90% of hotel rooms had been booked out through November. 

 

Local tourism officials said that most of the tourists were foreigners especially Europeans. 

 

Tourism was expected to go up and up well into the New Year, said Saraphon Prasatsin of the Trat Hoteliers' Association. 

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

He noted that Thais were heading north for their holidays but they were not the target group. That belongs to foreigners on Koh Chang.

 

Though he noted they were not staying long term as before. They were booking for one to two weeks.

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

The island is receiving a timely boost to tourism due to the APEC summit in Bangkok that has meant three extra days off creating a 5 day break until Sunday. 

 

Sakkhit Mungkarn of the Tourism Business Association of Trat said that only 10% of rooms were left in Koh Chang in November. 

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

He called the island safe and beautiful - after the pandemic natural resources have recovered and the parkland was gorgeous. 

 

In addition there are events organized this month such as a Bikini Run, Seafood Festival and beauty pageant Miss Grand Trat is taking place in the province. 

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

The coffers of the province are being further swelled by Cambodian tourists who are flooding over the recently opened border on shopping trips to malls in the area. 

 

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[webfact]

Why is Koh Chang emerging into a new hot spot for foreigners?

 

Thai media reported that the holiday island of Koh Chang in Trat has gone through somewhat of a boom in November with International holiday makers responsible rather than previously local Thais for the increased traffic.

 

As International arrivals slowly recover it would appear that Koh Chang could emerge as one of the winners post- Covid, but ASEAN NOW asks the question as to why?

 

For many years islands like Phuket or Samui have historically attracted the lion share of Western visitors wanting a beach holiday, but now it seems the previously more unfashionable Koh Chang is eating into that market share.

 

More foreigners are discovering Koh Chang post-pandemic

 

Koh Chang is one of the largest Thai islands in the Gulf of Thailand and contains dense, steep jungle. It is located along the Eastern Seaboard near the Cambodian border.

 

Tourism growth is fueled by promotion and good marketing and regions like Phuket have historically been very good at this. It now appears, however, that Koh Chang is ready to take on the big boys and this is being helped by local operators on the island.

 

Sakkhit Mungkarn of the Tourism Business Association of Trat said the island is not only safe but beautiful and that after the pandemic natural resources have recovered and the parkland was more gorgeous than ever.

 

In addition there are events organized this month such as a Bikini Run, Seafood Festival and beauty pageant Miss Grand Trat is taking place in the province.

 

Development in the island also helped to attract Western tourists. In particular the Blue Haven Bay destination, near the ferry pier, has been attracting many new visitors to the island due to adding new activities from a Beach Gym, Sauna to an outside Cinema screen to its location - Adding already to its 2km sandy beach, marina and golf course.  It is such development that is starting to raise awareness to just how much there is now to do on Koh Chang.

 

Blue Haven Bay in Koh Chang

 

“Our feedback was both Thais and Westerners wanted more things to do when on a beach vacation and since we have added more exciting activities we have seen an uptick in visitors” reported Danilo Becker, Blue Haven Bay Hospitality General Manager.

 

--2022-11-16

[IAMHERE]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

only 10% of rooms were left

In numbers; about how many is that?

[Chongalulu]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

beauty pageant Miss Grand Trat

Careful how you say that ! ???? 

[Tarteso]

I was living in KC ten years ago. Until came to Chiang Mai. The burning season in north make me come back to the island for a couple of months, but reading the OP, I’m thinking to choose this year another one quiet beach.

[sandyf]

Last Christmas/New Year Koh Chang was declared a special zone with less restrictions. You coudn't get on the ferry across without a vaccination certificate.

We went for New Year and I thought the ambiance on the beach far better than I was used to seeing at Pattaya. The island was mobbed and many may have spread the word.

I booked again a few months ago for this year and it was difficult then to get a room near White Sands beach.

[topt]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

and golf course

9 or 18 holes, all par 3 or full size?

[ugghuggh]

The lack of malls and residential expat population? 

[Aussieroaming]

Good for them....enjoy the holiday

[swm59nj]

I thought it was because beer is less expensive than other places. 

[Sparktrader]

50 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

I was living in KC ten years ago. Until came to Chiang Mai. The burning season in north make me come back to the island for a couple of months, but reading the OP, I’m thinking to choose this year another one quiet beach.

Go Ban Krut

[Sparktrader]

1 minute ago, swm59nj said:

I thought it was because beer is less expensive than other places. 

Beer isnt cheap in Thailand

[Sparktrader]

41 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Last Christmas/New Year Koh Chang was declared a special zone with less restrictions. You coudn't get on the ferry across without a vaccination certificate.

We went for New Year and I thought the ambiance on the beach far better than I was used to seeing at Pattaya. The island was mobbed and many may have spread the word.

I booked again a few months ago for this year and it was difficult then to get a room near White Sands beach.

Ruined now then by excess tourists. Was great 15 years ago.

[sead]

Bs... Most boring place in Thailand

[Banana7]

Don't forget those nice resorts on KC that like to sue and jail their customers if you post something negative about the resort.

[Sparktrader]

8 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

Don't forget those nice resorts on KC that like to sue and jail their customers if you post something negative about the resort.

Only 1 did. The reviewer sounds like a db.

[Eaglekott]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Why is Koh Chang emerging into a new hot spot for foreigners?

Because they can smoke Pot. And eat Gummies, Brownies and cookies...

[Clarkey611]

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

We went for New Year and I thought the ambiance on the beach far better than I was used to seeing at Pattaya.

Less from the sub-continent?

[Tarteso]

40 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Go Ban Krut

Isn’t a bad idea. I was thinking in Andaman sea, but I will take a look in Ban Krut ????

Edited November 16, 2022 by Tarteso

[Sparktrader]

4 minutes ago, Clarkey611 said:

Less from the sub-continent?

Less sleaze, no annoying sales people

[Seagull Sam]

My sentiments on the subject are clouded by being attacked by a drug crazed bar girl while I was living there a few years ago.

Discretion forbids me to name the establishment she worked in.

The point at issue is that there was no-one in earshot given the thin population.

When the local hospital informed the police their attitude was 'do you still love her?' Lawang.

[steve187]

just come back from a last minute break, it looked busy to me but not crowded out, lots of 'backpacking' looking people about, ferry was full for both crossing, booked sunday for mon/tues nights for 3 rooms most places had vacancies. settled on 'the splash' good price, good rooms, good buffet breakfast,  booked direct on web.

[Graham8888]

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

Last Christmas/New Year Koh Chang was declared a special zone with less restrictions. You coudn't get on the ferry across without a vaccination certificate.

We went for New Year and I thought the ambiance on the beach far better than I was used to seeing at Pattaya. The island was mobbed and many may have spread the word.

I booked again a few months ago for this year and it was difficult then to get a room near White Sands beach.

And every youtuber has been vlogging it to death for the last 2 years …. stunning group of islands though

 

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Sparktrader said:

Ruined now then by excess tourists. Was great 15 years ago.

Great is in the eye of the beholder.

Some areas are busier than they were 20 years ago but quite a bit is very much the same.

[sandyf]

55 minutes ago, Clarkey611 said:

Less from the sub-continent?

Certainly a lot less incontinent than Pattaya.

[RAZZELL]

Maybe the weather has been better than Samui where it's been raining non-stop.

 

RAZZ

[Sparktrader]

36 minutes ago, Graham8888 said:

And every youtuber has been vlogging it to death for the last 2 years …. stunning group of islands though

 

True. Paddy Doyle was. 

[Denim]

6 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

True. Paddy Doyle was. 

And that Nob who starts every sentence with ' Oh man.......'

[Sparktrader]

3 minutes ago, Denim said:

And that Nob who starts every sentence with ' Oh man.......'

Who is that?

[edwardandtubs]

Koh Chang is probably the best choice in November when the weather is good but it's still rainy season down south. Also good if you're bringing a large family in the car and the cost of so many flight tickets to the south would be too expensive. But in every other way it's just totally inferior to the islands down south. I did the full circuit of Koh Chang and it doesn't have a beach that comes close to the spectacular views you get in Phi Phi, Railay or even Lamai.

Edited November 16, 2022 by edwardandtubs