Samui Island’s tourism booming this year

SURAT THANI: -- Tourism to the famous Samui Island in the southern province of Surat Thani is booming this year.

Thailand expects the revenue from visitors to the island to exceed 10 billion baht this year.

There has been a 16 percent increase in the last three months, compared to the same period last year, the head of the Samui tourist centre, Phanu Waramitr, told TNA yesterday.

Samui’s hotels and resorts have already reported future reservations of more than 90 percent.

Around 2,000 tourists visit Samui everyday.

The visitors come mainly from Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Scandinavian countries and Japan.

The number of Asian tourists visiting Samui, though, is still low.

The unrest in Thailand’s three southern-most provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani has benefited Samui’s tourism business, Mr. Phanu said, since Samui is still considered very safe and has been unaffected by the violence in the deep

South.

More Malaysian and Singaporean tourists are now visiting Samui as its regarded as safe alternative to Hat Yai and other areas located near the southern border.

--TNA 2004-08-05

There are certainly alot of Italians here at the moment.

I was on chewang beach yesterday and ity was packed with them.

Good news for Samui!

Always is in August,full of Italians and 4 by 2's.

August is Italian month. Seems like the whole country goes on holiday for the entire month

Hence the ladyboy bars always do well in August and all the other bars get pissed off with them coming in and ordering soda.