Especially for Koh Samui and the island's growing over-tourism, is the lack of infra structure in huge demand. But when that is said, it's worth remembering that it was tourism, which made Samui wealthy. It's a difficult balance, where it would make sense having demands to new hotel- and resort projects, so they fit into the infrastructure and pay their progress-share of same. Water, electric supply, garbage collection and disposal of it — have the incinerators been fixed? — and roads and traffic are major issues, caused by increasing number of both visitors, and more workers needed to supply the island's tourist sector. The problems are not solved by getting tourist arrivals — i.e., think of increased income by larger number of arriving tourists, which some might mention as 'greed' — more tourists just increase the already for long time well known problems, which was never fixed to a full level by income from already arriving visitors. In my 20+ years as permanent resident on the island — total 25 years including my earlier visits — a lot of good improvements has been made. Actually water supply is better now, and number of black outs — and especially the shorter brown outs — in electric supply have been reduced manyfold. Also garbage collection has improved, even it is still a problem. And the newer sewages for rain water now seems to work so excellent that a flooded main road is rare. Furthermore, in general the condition of the roads is so much better — and safer based on improved tarmac and lack of the infamous 'black holes' — than before; not to forget the northern hill to Nathon, and the road by the cliffs between Chaweng Noi and Lamai. But when that is said, the traffic has worsen to sometimes a stand still on the main road in rush hours, and more impatient drivers — especially motorbikes, but also some cars — generating dangerous situations; and yes, some die when that kind of driving is performed. Because, in the same 20-25 years period the number of both tourists, expats and workers have dramatically increased. How to control it, or change it, apart from some infrastructure demands to be fulfilled before new tourist aimed constructions can open, might be a difficult task. To my knowledge, the local authorities already use the 2% local allowance of tourist tax, which is way to pay for increasing infrastructure demands. Another question is, if we all — including us expats — pay enough share for our use of infrastructure. And yes, I'm aware of, my reply and I might be unpopular mentioning it. It has been said that hotels only pay a relative small fixed fee for garbage collection — when it was mentioned, it was 2,000 baht per month, I don't know if it has changed, we lacks a local newsmedia — and many residents don't pay anything, just drop their garbage bags in some piles somewhere by the main roads. And do we pay enough for water to justify investment in a better supply? This of course includes the tourist section, so they also pays for their actual demand and usage. There should be a way to figure out, how to share the costs in a relative fair way. And by the way, what is a so-called quality tourist? We often hear that expression mentioned, I believe that it was originally said by Uncle Tu, aka former junta-leader and prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. In my view — and it's not specific Koh Samui and her sister islands, but generally — quality tourist is not a question of how much money they spend, it's a question of behaviour. There are people coming that spends huge amounts, but behave bad. And there people coming on a small budget, who behaves as guests with respect for culture and local inhabitants. And even those guests don't spend a fortune, they can still be worth a minor fortune for the locals, by staying in modest guest houses and dining in small food outlets and restaurants, both owned by small independent entrepreneurs instead of global chains.
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