Koh Samui Businesses Call for More Flights to the Island

[webfact]

 

by Krajangwit Johjit

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Tourism operators in Koh Samui are calling for more direct flights to the island and an improvement in infrastructure and tourism distribution as the industry is on track for recovery after the pandemic.

 

President of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui Ratchaporn Poolsawadee said that only 70% of independent hotels with a three- or four-star rating resumed operations following the pandemic due to cash flow constraints when compared to hotels operated by an international chain.

 

He added that the cost of resuming hotel operations could be as high as starting a new business in some cases.

 

According to Ratchaporn, the number of flights to the island is currently limited to 30 to 44 flights per day, which is fewer than the pre-pandemic level of 50 per day, limiting the market’s potential.

 

Samui welcomed the first Chinese groups via chartered flights from Chengdu this month. However, costly airfares mean that most current Chinese tourists are likely independent travelers.

 

He also urged the public sector to regulate safety and security measures for tourists, including preventing taxi scams and road accidents, as well as calling for the construction of mass transport networks, which could attract new investments in the future.

 

Meanwhile, Surat Thani Governor Vijvut Tjinto said the province expects tourist arrivals to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao to recover to the pre-pandemic level of 2.5 million this year, driven by pent-up demand and a gradual increase in flights to Samui and Surat Thani.

 

Vijvut said the province is now working with the Department of Employment to recruit staff who left the industry during the pandemic in an effort to resolve the labor shortage.

 

He added that Surat Thani follows safety standards and offers security services to tourists, including at its famous Full Moon parties on Koh Phangan.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230317110047056

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-03-17

 

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[ikke1959]

While the whole world is trying to reduce flights and find other ways of transportation, Here we call for more.. No airpolution enough

[Will B Good]

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

Tourism operators in Koh Samui are calling for more direct flights to the island

That will only happen when airlines are confident there are sufficient volumes to ensure a profit......not because traders want more flights.

[stoner]

isn't that not the island where a certain airline has a monopoly of sorts.

 

ahhhhh.

[phetphet]

Sounds like Khun Ratchaporn is expecting financial support for independant  hotels. The reason many of them closed is because they were indebted to the banks and couldn't pay their loans when Covid hit.

 

Mass transport networks? Such as what? Trains? Bus services? Dream on.

pre Covid, they had a small bus service from the airport. That stopped. I have recently seen the buses parked up here and there, but don't think the service has restarted.

 

So many other problems need fixing first. Electricity, water, waste disposal, sewage, flooded roads whenever heavy rain.They can't even get the traffic lights to work.

 

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

That will only happen when airlines are confident there are sufficient volumes to ensure a profit......not because traders want more flights.

BS, it is about the fact that Bangkok Airways dominates it and is super expensive. There is more than enough volume, ferries daily are packed to the last seats.

[spidermike007]

1. Giving BA a monopoly on the island, was always going to limit the number of people willing to pay those high prices to get there.

2. Lower hotel prices. Oh my God. What a concept. You mean make a sacrifice to attract tourism? Wow. 

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

1. Giving BA a monopoly on the island, was always going to limit the number of people willing to pay those high prices to get there.

Nobody gave Bangkok Airways a monopoly.

It is a private airport.

Paid for by BA not tax payers.

Before Covid, 7 - 8 airlines flew to Samui every day or week.

The problem is that the airlines are short of working planes and staff.

They have got to get some planes out of mothballs, get pilots up to speed again and hire more cabin crew.

That all takes time and money.

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

According to Ratchaporn, the number of flights to the island is currently limited to 30 to 44 flights per day, which is fewer than the pre-pandemic level of 50 per day, limiting the market’s potential.

What happened to quality over quantity?