Result Of Shooting Incident On Phangan

[Soulwy]

I just read about the shooting incident on Phangan, I was shocked & surprised.

Mafia is everywhere, but on a small island like Phangan...well it takes a lot of space.

I wonder if this incident has effected the tourist flow.

Edited July 13, 2009 by Soulwy

[Samuian]

I just read about the shooting incident on Phangan, I was shocked & surprised.

Mafia is everywhere, but on a small island like Phangan...well it takes a lot of space.

I wonder if this incident has effected the tourists flow.

Could you be a wee bit more precise about which "shooting incident"?

[angiud]

I just read about the shooting incident on Phangan, I was shocked & surprised.

Mafia is everywhere, but on a small island like Phangan...well it takes a lot of space.

I wonder if this incident has effected the tourist flow.

Not at all.

(I guess he refered to the Bantai-parties-website-german guy )

[sometieguy]

I just read about the shooting incident on Phangan, I was shocked & surprised.

Mafia is everywhere, but on a small island like Phangan...well it takes a lot of space.

I wonder if this incident has effected the tourists flow.

Could you be a wee bit more precise about which "shooting incident"?

here here! really WHICH shooting incident involving "mafia" there? ...can you maybe give us a large number of specific details and then we might be able to narrow it down to one of a dozen that month

[Soulwy]

That was the latest shooting incident I believe...(German resident for 15 years again noise pollution)

Not at all...? Even more surprising...

here here! really WHICH shooting incident involving "mafia" there? ...can you maybe give us a large number of specific details and then we might be able to narrow it down to one of a dozen that month

Nah... I was there last month, no mafia incidents ...

Edited July 13, 2009 by Soulwy

[angiud]

here here! really WHICH shooting incident involving "mafia" there? rolleyes.gif ...can you maybe give us a large number of specific details and then we might be able to narrow it down to one of a dozen that month wink.gif

Sorry but it is a misunderstanding. We talking of KPG not Pattaya

[sbk]

I doubt the tourism has been hit by the shooting. More like by a major global economic downturn? Its the low season and there usually aren't that many tourists around anyway? Bad weather? Strong baht? Expensive flights?

These have had more effect than the shooting, IMO.

[carmine]

I have to disagree, it's not low season. July and August should be amongst the busiest months of the year for tourists. I do agree though that the downturn is due to the world economy

[Soulwy]

This incident is really an -incident- or are these parties a tension-factor for the community in general?

I agree, I also noticed people not spending money as they normally do.

[Birdman]

The weather??? The weather is perfect, except 3, 4 days more clouds and wind than usual.

Strong Baht??? The Baht is like that, appr. 46-49 to the EUR, since the last years.

Expensive flights??? Flights are not more expensive than before.

[Rooo]

Just been to a couple of trips around the place, from Phuket to Songkhla.Very Very quiet, the only activity boost was during the 5 day holiday break.

Don't matter what the Euro, Pound, whatever currency is worth, the world economic situation is a major factor (understatement of the year lol ). People are reluctant to take a chance, not knowing if they have a job tomorrow.

Seen lots of backpakers heading to KPG from Dongsak yesterday, just not holding my breath as to their economic impact, after speaking to a couple of them,and being told that they allow themselves 1 Pound per meal.

[mssabai]

There has been a big down turn in tourists in KP but it has nothing to do with any shootings and everything to do with the fact that most western nations are currently experiencing either full blown recession or massive economic uncertainty. Not the time to go swanning off on your world tour really. Banks are not willing to allow students to extend their overdrafts to go travelling and people are not willing to leave their jobs to go on trips when they may not have one to come back to. People are going to be saving on luxuries such as holidays to the far east.

Apparently there has been a massive upturn this year in UK holiday booking by English people. British camp sites and hotels are doing quite well out of it!

[angiud]

after speaking to a couple of them,and being told that they allow themselves 1 Pound per meal.

I can feel that. Last Full moon in KPG was crowded, but many business complain about "farang Keneaow". Actually I can see also a drop in my restaurants, while the amount of tourists is almost the same.

Just tourists are more careful about what they spend.

Anyway may-june-july, low season

[ham]

after speaking to a couple of them,and being told that they allow themselves 1 Pound per meal.

I can feel that. Last Full moon in KPG was crowded, but many business complain about "farang Keneaow". Actually I can see also a drop in my restaurants, while the amount of tourists is almost the same.

Just tourists are more careful about what they spend.

Anyway may-june-july, low season

as far i can see "they" rather like to spend it on Ko Tao for snorkeling and diving expenses! Since all boats available heading to Ko Tao after the partys (hfullmoon and halfmoon) crouwded with young backpacker! They are not at all willing to pay 1000 B for a sleep instead of 300 before. Good exemple is Had Yao's failling in the hotel sector!! And "they" are not at all "Keneaow", when it comes to their personal whishes I guess! Just they understand the ripp off too.

Ko Phanganers thought to get the same short time tourists as in Samui if they change the standard of the bungalows! Same same but different, na? Kids travelling around here, choosing their Phangan time accordingly the ravers calandar and nothing else.

[Samuian]

after speaking to a couple of them,and being told that they allow themselves 1 Pound per meal.

I can feel that. Last Full moon in KPG was crowded, but many business complain about "farang Keneaow". Actually I can see also a drop in my restaurants, while the amount of tourists is almost the same.

Just tourists are more careful about what they spend.

Anyway may-june-july, low season

as far i can see "they" rather like to spend it on Ko Tao for snorkeling and diving expenses! Since all boats available heading to Ko Tao after the partys (hfullmoon and halfmoon) crouwded with young backpacker! They are not at all willing to pay 1000 B for a sleep instead of 300 before. Good exemple is Had Yao's failling in the hotel sector!! And "they" are not at all "Keneaow", when it comes to their personal whishes I guess! Just they understand the ripp off too.

Ko Phanganers thought to get the same short time tourists as in Samui if they change the standard of the bungalows! Same same but different, na? Kids travelling around here, choosing their Phangan time accordingly the ravers calandar and nothing else.

There is little truth in your story... our business is enjoying every time around

full moon party a surge in younger travelers, who are stopping over (on Samui) just for the party.

And they DO pay 1000-1200 and more for the room but they are aware of what they

spend their money for and this is certainly not an overpriced pests infested shack -

called "Bungalow" or "Beach Villa", all concrete bathroom, hand shower from a bucket!

And with the rest I do agree that much of the "slow down" is due to the world economic

slowdown and certainly factors as "low season" and recently the impact of the A(N1H1) Viral flu

are taking their toll too - another major factor might be that by know there are way too

many beds, Restaurant, Pubs, Bars and other services on offer in general, it will adjust itself.

(The huge Hotel structure at Haad Yao was a bit of a gamble, but then...

who knows someone may buy it.. I stayed ther and thought it was great bargain

compared to the overpriced and under serviced "Sea View Bungalows" with mold odor..)

Edited July 15, 2009 by Samuian

[maithai99]

Is that the Bayview resort you talk about being up for sale?

I know the family well and thought that they bit off more than they can chew, a victim of the be better than the others syndrome, banks preyed on them to mortgage the land to build, Ive been going to Haad Yao for nearly 20 years, what about the other resorts last I was there 12 months ago there was alot of building going on, no doubt all big mortgages from banks to finance and now suffering, can anyone let me know whats happening there.

[Soulwy]

I was quite surprised to see not only so many accommodations, but also so many from 1000 baht and more.

Most visitors are for the parties and younger than 30-35 years, right? And my impression was that Koh Phangan attracts more bohemian kind of people with a modest budget, so why offer acco's (+ price)that would suit Samui-visitors more?

Educate me on this...

[Birdman]

There are already resorts with rooms 10.000+ for the cheapest and simultaneous good occupancy rates too.

Times are changing.

[angiud]

Cocohut Haad Rin Bungalow suite with private pool 17.000 baht

[maithai99]

Haad Yao was owned by about 5 families, all related, who where constantly fighting and jealous of each other and causing problems for guests, , they had no education and no hospitality experience, they all fell into the bungalow business as backbackers came in the early years, mostly with the drawcard being no police and available gunga,rooms where cheap and nasty (but most people spent their time on the beach or in the restaurants talking with others and not in the rooms watching TV) but they made the money from food and drinks, motorbike rental and the associated rip offs from damage,theiving and gunga (they were great days! oh the memories!) there was constant friction between them, it seems to me that they were all trying to outdo eachother, Haad Yao and most of the other beaches on the island catered for bohemian backpackers, the owners all dreamed of being like Samui and having big spending tourists but it never happened, it may one day (but i think the quality of the beaches is not good enough for high end tourists) so i guess they were gearing up for it, the problem is they have no money except for the value of the land ( they spent it all on 4wds and ridiculous luxurys they didnt need) they could either sell the land or borrow on it to build better resorts, unfortunaty Thailand has had many problems and many highs and lows with volume of tourists coming(asian financial crisis in 1997, bird flu, military coups etc etc etc etc) that paying the bank was allways a problem.Now they have borrowed too much and with no tourists and no planning or saving for the future they are f...ed.If they stuck to backbackers accomodation they would be fine, backpackers have allways been frowned upon but they are the ones that keep traveling even during hard times but no one wants backpackers,why? they stay longer but supposedly dont spend as much as high end tourists but it has been proven because they stay longer they spend just as much,but the thais want quick money and dont want to work for it.Now Haad Yao finds itself losing the backpackers as the accom is too expensive.

[ThaiBasil]

I just read about the shooting incident on Phangan, I was shocked & surprised.

Mafia is everywhere, but on a small island like Phangan...well it takes a lot of space.

I wonder if this incident has effected the tourist flow.

Especially on an isalnd like Phangan. Full Moon Party: lots of tourists each month, lot of money going around, lots of drugs and alcohol, lots of wasted people waiting to get cheated out of their money: the whole island screams: mafia!!! (still a nice place though, lol)

[BigC]

I just read about the shooting incident on Phangan, I was shocked & surprised.

Mafia is everywhere, but on a small island like Phangan...well it takes a lot of space.

I wonder if this incident has effected the tourist flow.

no mafia in thailand. never herd of any. why people assume when there is a shooting that it is mafia. could be someone that just likes to shoot people for fun.

[maithai99]

"could be someone that just likes to shoot people for fun"

Your right

tempers, face ,alcohol, drugs little education and guns dont mix

I think the others are not talking about Italian Mafia being in Thailand, mafia was used as a general term for an organised family or group of criminals, acting together,with the intention of gathering as much money and /or power as possible, by any means, with no considersation of harm or damage done to others.

Edited July 19, 2009 by maithai99

[Soulwy]

It is hard to associate Koh Phangan with high end tourists...Coco hut with 17,000 baht suite...wow...

"could be someone that just likes to shoot people for fun"

Your right

tempers, face ,alcohol, drugs little education and guns dont mix

I think the others are not talking about Italian Mafia being in Thailand, mafia was used as a general term for an organised family or group of criminals, acting together,with the intention of gathering as much money and /or power as possible, by any means, with no considersation of harm or damage done to others.

Angiud in disguise

[lazygourmet]

Lately, there has been plenty of discussion about Koh Phangan and its potential for luxury ecotourism.

New hotel projects are in the works all over the island.

Despite all the talk, hope and speculation, Koh Phangan has little history of high end tourism success and no clear plan for success.

Success is defined differently by many involved in these discussions, but more worrisome is that few agree on what defines failure...

To be continued here

[ham]

1. Reason: Get spending shorttime tourist like Samui, the main thinking in the peak years of the 90's, when tourist where comming in masses and also liked to stay longer, longer. People start to ask vor AC, Pools and so on the, normal devlopment.

2. No planing at all

3. This I have heard from owners, but can't proove it: Banks where pushing in that way that projects with high end and AC Bungalows have gotten good and easier credits.

Hugh resorts are in construction on the way to hadrin (e.g. 200 bedroom in Ban Kai from a big local family). The Had Yao (the ex. beauty of the west coast) has like other beaches quite a lot of people over fullmoon and empties after 3 day's completely, since allmost all resorts have transformed their resort for another level of tourist. That may attract some newcomers by the word (when reading comments on travel sites). Not to mentioning the rain during the summer peak. This made a lot of travellers moving.

Now the income is down to a dangerous point for many families without any knowledge about "what happen?". Not to think what happen when the situation is getting worse over the new year? There are many "scenarios" waiting in the background ;-)

[angiud]

Holy words.

I agree the stay of the KPG tourists is now much shorter than some year ago. Maybe due to the increasing prices, or for the sometime no so warm welcome from the local people.

The near collapsed global economy, the always more damaged environment and the many news (the infamous KPG, the dangerous KPG, etc) contribute to the big slow-down.

IMO also the over-offer of rooms, restaurants and almost any kind of activity is bringing local and expat people to complain more and more about the less income respect the past years.

Difficult to find a solution until the important KPG people don't really start to take care more about the island and less about their own pockets

[Rooo]

Difficult to find a solution until the important KPG people don't really start to take care more about the island and less about their own pockets

Will never happen in our life times.

[t.s]

at present, quite a few families have found themselves in very deep water having borrowed heavily to upgrade their facilities with swimming pools and 3000+ baht per night bungalows and now find themselves trying to sell in an equally deflated property market. Again, they are selling at a conceived market value rather than a realistic one.

i can think of at least three or four examples and i am sure there are many more.

hubris can hurt.

[Soulwy]

Interesting posts... Thanks for the link to Michel Pitons blog.

To me the island has a schizofrenic feel: the east part is the party-side with wild youngsters and the west part is the more quiet side with yoga and nature minded ones. The lowbudget backpackers staying a few days vs. tourists with a bit more money to spend.

The question is: has the island enough "bottom" to focus on both groups?

In general I think:

Don't overblow the island, focus on its strengths instead of trying to copy other islands.

Think further than tomorrow (Ham's "not planning at all")

Be realistic.

Being poor sucks, but these masses of short stay party people kill the soul of the people (that is what I noticed) A nice harmonious living environment is worth gold.

Edited July 21, 2009 by Soulwy