Tourism Panel Vows To Protect Island’S Image

[Boater]

WITH tourism as the main engine of Koh Samui’s economy, the island’s main tourism governing body vowed to protect its image and environment to continue attracting international tourists in the years to come.

Tanongsak Wong, president of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, promised during their recent executive board meeting to promote the island’s positive image to international travelers.

http://samuiexpress....t-islands-image

[Rooo]

They have the article & an advert for BKK air.

[jko]

The sad truth observed over decades is that the Thais cannot protect their tourist resorts largely due to vested interests, corruption, unbridled greed and little desire to protect the unrivalled natural beauty of their own country.

I recall in 1980, they proudly announced that the then pristine, stunningly beautiful Patong Beach (with just one hotel) would 'NEVER be allowed to develop into another Pattaya'

And what a terrible tourism tragedy it has turned out to be.

Despite all the good intentions therefore, Samui will inevitably continue down its current path of exploitation, overbuilding and mafia proliferation. And so will the other beach destinations.

As it is now, there is hardly a nice beach left without a string of hotels, guest houses - and all the predictable downmarket bars, massage parlours, jetskis etc. that accompany them in the established Thai 'recipe' for beach resorts..

Perhaps in 20 years or even less, when the bulk of upscale visitors are flying in to enjoy Burma's beaches to avoid the polluted resorts in Thailand, the new generation will be asking, angrily:

Who ruined our tourism industry?

[Tropicalevo]

As it is now, there is hardly a nice beach left without a string of hotels, guest houses - and all the predictable downmarket bars, massage parlours, jetskis etc. that accompany them in the established Thai 'recipe' for beach resorts..

Perhaps in 20 years or even less, when the bulk of upscale visitors are flying in to enjoy Burma's beaches to avoid the polluted resorts in Thailand, the new generation will be asking, angrily:

Who ruined our tourism industry?

JKO - whilst your sentiments are close to the truth, the fact is that MOST beaches on KS do not have "and all the predictable downmarket bars, massage parlours, jetskis".

Lamai, Bang Rak and Chewang yes - but the rest? There are still some dammm good beaches out there.

Get away from the tourist traps more - it is still a beautiful island - for now.

AS to "Who ruined our tourism industry?" - the tourists of course. That is how we all got here. We and people like us did it. However, some of us came here and are trying to preserve a beautiful place, others came to just enjoy (and maybe rape and pillage).

[ydraw]

The beach at Patong is still the same as it was 50 years ago, just with more sunbeds. And if people didn't want them, they wouldn't be there either, because they wouldn't make any money.

Video here: (harder to photoshop a video). Still a beautiful beach.

If you really want to see a beach that's been ruined, check out Kuta. Disgusting.

Just having more people around does not "ruin" a beach. What you're really saying is that having to share it with other people is what ruins it for you.

[Sydneycraig]

I'd say chaweng has developed much better than patong by kicking the majority of the crappy girly bars out down to lamai...

[Birdman]

Patong is the most crowded and most commercialised beach in Thailand. If people like ydraw like that, they should go there and be happy.

Others prefer beaches without all that, just beach, palm trees, tropical calm sea and a pleasant breeze, they go to Koh Tarutao or Koh Maak.

And others, that's the Samui folks, prefer beaches with commercialism up to a certain degree. Chaweng and Lamai are the middle way between Patong and Koh Tarutao and the other Samui beaches are more Koh Tarutao than even Karon.

To each his own beach

[BigC]

They have the article & an advert for BKK air.

Yes they should promote how they get ripped off the moment the plane leaves the runway at Bangkok I am sure that creates a first image of greatness

[KTD]

They have the article & an advert for BKK air.

Yes they should promote how they get ripped off the moment the plane leaves the runway at Bangkok I am sure that creates a first image of greatness

[shafty]

Patong is the most crowded and most commercialised beach in Thailand. If people like ydraw like that, they should go there and be happy.

Others prefer beaches without all that, just beach, palm trees, tropical calm sea and a pleasant breeze, they go to Koh Tarutao or Koh Maak.

And others, that's the Samui folks, prefer beaches with commercialism up to a certain degree. Chaweng and Lamai are the middle way between Patong and Koh Tarutao and the other Samui beaches are more Koh Tarutao than even Karon.

To each his own beach

And how long do you think it will stay that way?

[Tropicalevo]

Patong is the most crowded and most commercialised beach in Thailand. If people like ydraw like that, they should go there and be happy.

Others prefer beaches without all that, just beach, palm trees, tropical calm sea and a pleasant breeze, they go to Koh Tarutao or Koh Maak.

And others, that's the Samui folks, prefer beaches with commercialism up to a certain degree. Chaweng and Lamai are the middle way between Patong and Koh Tarutao and the other Samui beaches are more Koh Tarutao than even Karon.

To each his own beach

And how long do you think it will stay that way?

IMHO quite a while.

In the time that I have lived here - the only beach to change dramatically is Choengmon, but is has taken 12 years for Choengmon beach to get the jet ski/sun-lounger makeover. It has still avoided the downmarket bars and massage parlours.

Most of the other beaches that I see or visit are still PDG

[bangkokburning]

I really dislike everything about Samui. It is the last island in Thailand I would go for any amount of time. Even the Thais get scammed.

It stays alive thru tourist guidebook fairytales and initertia. Much like Chaing Mai.

A dozen better cheaper islands.

Then there is the Immigration hassles and overpriced living on the expat side. Not to mention all the petty mafia bs.

[insertmembernamehere]

So you prefer Koh Bangkok?

[gark]

Samui beaches are practically deserted compared to Phuket with one exception, Bang Tao beach

[BigC]

So you prefer Koh Bangkok?

Yes when they have floods around sukumvit

[samuijimmy]

I really dislike everything about Samui. It is the last island in Thailand I would go for any amount of time. Even the Thais get scammed.

It stays alive thru tourist guidebook fairytales and initertia. Much like Chaing Mai.

A dozen better cheaper islands.

Then there is the Immigration hassles and overpriced living on the expat side. Not to mention all the petty mafia bs.

absolute rubbish.....

so you had a bad time, here? probably from your own mixing with the wrong type of people in certain areas?

and pray tell where there are a dozen cheaper islands ?

I've yet to have a hassle at immigration too.... in almost five years of living here.....(that goes for most people I know here) ....

There is accommodation in all price ranges and when I compare with places I seen in other areas including BKK, it can be cheaper for what you get.... food at Tesco etc same price...as else where in Thailand...

Other than Phuket, I cannot think of another island that has the goods and services we can get here....

Yes of course restaurants on beach might be more expensive... but too there are cheaper places to eat too, out of the tourist trap areas....

"Fairy tails" .... give us all that live here a break and I would add probably 99% of the tourist that come here to Samui.... don't have a problem...

[livinthailandos]

I really dislike everything about Samui. It is the last island in Thailand I would go for any amount of time. Even the Thais get scammed.

It stays alive thru tourist guidebook fairytales and initertia. Much like Chaing Mai.

A dozen better cheaper islands.

Then there is the Immigration hassles and overpriced living on the expat side. Not to mention all the petty mafia bs.

absolute rubbish.....

so you had a bad time, here? probably from your own mixing with the wrong type of people in certain areas?

and pray tell where there are a dozen cheaper islands ?

I've yet to have a hassle at immigration too.... in almost five years of living here.....(that goes for most people I know here) ....

There is accommodation in all price ranges and when I compare with places I seen in other areas including BKK, it can be cheaper for what you get.... food at Tesco etc same price...as else where in Thailand...

Other than Phuket, I cannot think of another island that has the goods and services we can get here....

Yes of course restaurants on beach might be more expensive... but too there are cheaper places to eat too, out of the tourist trap areas....

"Fairy tails" .... give us all that live here a break and I would add probably 99% of the tourist that come here to Samui.... don't have a problem...

Totally Agree

[bangkokburning]

I really dislike everything about Samui. It is the last island in Thailand I would go for any amount of time. Even the Thais get scammed.

It stays alive thru tourist guidebook fairytales and initertia. Much like Chaing Mai.

A dozen better cheaper islands.

Then there is the Immigration hassles and overpriced living on the expat side. Not to mention all the petty mafia bs.

absolute rubbish.....

so you had a bad time, here? probably from your own mixing with the wrong type of people in certain areas?

So, you readily admit that its basically Pattaya. Wrong people in certain areas. Yeah -

A) All the idiots

B ) On Koh Samui

No, in fact it was the GH owners who would not rent me a bungalow because I did not want their shitty dive package. Then there were all the stupid hipsters that had more money than the stupid hipsters on Phangan. Fast forward a decade, massive overbuilding, jet skis. chairs and sour Thais w/ the you want it or not attitude. Another decade later..boat outfits refuse to take us to Ang Thong because we don't want their package and want to camp. Want double to bring our gear (which was nothing on a big boat). Impossible to get a taxi with meter (one taxi had cleverly put a sign topside of the front window "B100 (I forget) addl fee". The bus company would not change our tickets, less a fee. We did find a great place to stay, in town near the pier. Was a great room for B500 - we left the next AM for Koh Surin and NEVER LOOKED BACK. The only lovely people we met on the island were attached to that hotel - oh, and the people we met selling food in the street.

BTW, your schools are utter shit. All the money Samui takes in - met a young schoolgirl, dauughter of a vendor. Lives on Samui, speaks ZERO English. Well done Samui expats!

and pray tell where there are a dozen cheaper islands ?

With the exception of Lipe, PiiPii and Phuket all the Andaman is cheaper and prettier and less crowded. Oh those islands - would not step foot on them either. In fact, I have never been in Phuket province other than on the roads and the bus station. Whatever beauty might be gleaned is overcome by the issues that tourism brings. And tourism in the Thai islands is a very ugly thing.

I've yet to have a hassle at immigration too.... in almost five years of living here.....(that goes for most people I know here) ....

Most, so that is 51%.

There is accommodation in all price ranges and when I compare with places I seen in other areas including BKK, it can be cheaper for what you get.... food at Tesco etc same price...as else where in Thailand...

Yeah right. So please sign me up for that beachfront bungalow on Chewang for Songkran.

Tesco? <deleted>, I think you have made my point.

My gold standard is - only my wife, myself and the park staff camping on the island. After that it's generally downhill.

Other than Phuket, I cannot think of another island that has the goods and services we can get here....

So who wants GOODS that they cannot pack in and what sort of services do I need? Please tell me as I have been living on/off Thailand for twenty years and I guess I am missing the rustic island experiences?

Yes of course restaurants on beach might be more expensive... but too there are cheaper places to eat too, out of the tourist trap areas....

Its all one big tourist trap.

"Fairy tails" .... give us all that live here a break and I would add probably 99% of the tourist that come here to Samui.... don't have a problem...

FAIRY TALES

[Oak]

So the street vendor's daughter does not speak English ? What a disgrace.

You couldn't afford to hire your own boat? They refused to take your gear on a charter? Wow another disgrace.

You stuffed up your bus booking & they wouldn't change the date? Better tell me who they are, another disgrace.

You are obviously are ignorant of what this island has to offer,this is determined by your in depth reply, confirming your capabilities to mix & travel around off the beaten track.

Oh I forgot you are determined by your rather large budget 500 baht a day, please do forgive me, how stupid of me.

Thailand is not what it was 20 years ago, wake up. You want a secluded island great go find one.

Your non presence in some areas is our blessing I would say.

Typical BKK cheap Charlie.

[carmine]

Its not fairy tales in so much as with all the more obvious aspects of Samui that are wrong the feedback i get from tourists is generally very good. Excellent infact when compaired to Phuket. Samui still has the feel of being an island. easy to get accomodation from backpacker level to 30k plus a night improved raods, fine dining and lovely beaches

yes we know the taxis are aweful, we accept its vastly overpriced to fly here and we know there are issues with scamming but this is Thailand <deleted>!

Fact is, whether you like it or not, the tourists do like it.

Please share with us your bad experience on samui...bad holiday, or failed business?

[insertmembernamehere]

My gold standard is - only my wife, myself and the park staff camping on the island. After that it's generally downhill.

Even Gilligan's Island had more people. Your gold standard is unrealistic. It's hard to find an uninhabited island these days one can visit and stay on.

[Rooo]

My gold standard is - only my wife, myself and the park staff camping on the island. After that it's generally downhill.

Even Gilligan's Island had more people. Your gold standard is unrealistic. It's hard to find an uninhabited island these days one can visit and stay on.

I know of a couple. There is a few off Samui. But then I will have other people going there better stay quiet.

[Rooo]

I really dislike everything about Samui. It is the last island in Thailand I would go for any amount of time. Even the Thais get scammed.

It stays alive thru tourist guidebook fairytales and initertia. Much like Chaing Mai.

A dozen better cheaper islands.

Then there is the Immigration hassles and overpriced living on the expat side. Not to mention all the petty mafia bs.

absolute rubbish.....

so you had a bad time, here? probably from your own mixing with the wrong type of people in certain areas?

So, you readily admit that its basically Pattaya. Wrong people in certain areas. Yeah -

A) All the idiots

B ) On Koh Samui

No, in fact it was the GH owners who would not rent me a bungalow because I did not want their shitty dive package. Then there were all the stupid hipsters that had more money than the stupid hipsters on Phangan. Fast forward a decade, massive overbuilding, jet skis. chairs and sour Thais w/ the you want it or not attitude. Another decade later..boat outfits refuse to take us to Ang Thong because we don't want their package and want to camp. Want double to bring our gear (which was nothing on a big boat). Impossible to get a taxi with meter (one taxi had cleverly put a sign topside of the front window "B100 (I forget) addl fee". The bus company would not change our tickets, less a fee. We did find a great place to stay, in town near the pier. Was a great room for B500 - we left the next AM for Koh Surin and NEVER LOOKED BACK. The only lovely people we met on the island were attached to that hotel - oh, and the people we met selling food in the street.

BTW, your schools are utter shit. All the money Samui takes in - met a young schoolgirl, dauughter of a vendor. Lives on Samui, speaks ZERO English. Well done Samui expats!

and pray tell where there are a dozen cheaper islands ?

With the exception of Lipe, PiiPii and Phuket all the Andaman is cheaper and prettier and less crowded. Oh those islands - would not step foot on them either. In fact, I have never been in Phuket province other than on the roads and the bus station. Whatever beauty might be gleaned is overcome by the issues that tourism brings. And tourism in the Thai islands is a very ugly thing.

I've yet to have a hassle at immigration too.... in almost five years of living here.....(that goes for most people I know here) ....

Most, so that is 51%.

There is accommodation in all price ranges and when I compare with places I seen in other areas including BKK, it can be cheaper for what you get.... food at Tesco etc same price...as else where in Thailand...

Yeah right. So please sign me up for that beachfront bungalow on Chewang for Songkran.

Tesco? <deleted>, I think you have made my point.

My gold standard is - only my wife, myself and the park staff camping on the island. After that it's generally downhill.

Other than Phuket, I cannot think of another island that has the goods and services we can get here....

So who wants GOODS that they cannot pack in and what sort of services do I need? Please tell me as I have been living on/off Thailand for twenty years and I guess I am missing the rustic island experiences?

Yes of course restaurants on beach might be more expensive... but too there are cheaper places to eat too, out of the tourist trap areas....

Its all one big tourist trap.

"Fairy tails" .... give us all that live here a break and I would add probably 99% of the tourist that come here to Samui.... don't have a problem...

FAIRY TALES

I honestly hope you feel better now that you vented your feelings. Just take care.

[BigC]

I really dislike everything about Samui. It is the last island in Thailand I would go for any amount of time. Even the Thais get scammed.

It stays alive thru tourist guidebook fairytales and initertia. Much like Chaing Mai.

A dozen better cheaper islands.

Then there is the Immigration hassles and overpriced living on the expat side. Not to mention all the petty mafia bs.

then why do you care what happens on this forum

[BigC]

Its not fairy tales in so much as with all the more obvious aspects of Samui that are wrong the feedback i get from tourists is generally very good. Excellent infact when compaired to Phuket. Samui still has the feel of being an island. easy to get accomodation from backpacker level to 30k plus a night improved raods, fine dining and lovely beaches

yes we know the taxis are aweful, we accept its vastly overpriced to fly here and we know there are issues with scamming but this is Thailand <deleted>!

Fact is, whether you like it or not, the tourists do like it.

Please share with us your bad experience on samui...bad holiday, or failed business?

Phuket has allot more crime and more serious and organised crime.

[insertmembernamehere]

If you read the original article, it is quite vacuous. Basically, "promot(ing) the island’s positive image to international travelers" is all we get.

And the "group" also doesn't like Bangkok Airways' higher fairs (D'oh!), everyone should preserve Samui's natural resources (haha...) and a media campaign aimed at the international travel industry is planned.

There is really nothing concrete at all here. It's a fluff article on what appears to have been a fluff meeting.

Don't address the half empty glass, just promote that there's still some water in the glass at all....

[notmyself]

I really dislike everything about Samui. It is the last island in Thailand I would go for any amount of time. Even the Thais get scammed.

It stays alive thru tourist guidebook fairytales and initertia. Much like Chaing Mai.

A dozen better cheaper islands.

Then there is the Immigration hassles and overpriced living on the expat side. Not to mention all the petty mafia bs.

Immigration hassles? Granted over the last few years there are quite a number of Russians who find the form hard to fill in and seem not to have any idea what a queue is but a few words in Thai will get you called forward.

[samuijimmy]

oh deary me....

I think bangkokburning has been out voted on this one....

a little sad really.... a bit of an attitude change and how you approach things and people can make a huge difference to how you'll get treated....

The rest of the comments don't justify a response...

[notmyself]

a bit of an attitude change and how you approach things and people can make a huge difference to how you'll get treated....

Same everywhere. I would however be happy to acknowledge that some places are better than others and that you either have to be very astute or very rich to live on Samui..Someone at the bottom of their game could make 'it' in Issan but not on Samui.

[Tropicalevo]

a bit of an attitude change and how you approach things and people can make a huge difference to how you'll get treated....

Same everywhere. I would however be happy to acknowledge that some places are better than others and that you either have to be very astute or very rich to live on Samui..Someone at the bottom of their game could make 'it' in Issan but not on Samui.

How about a third option?

Keep a low profile. Do not listen to advice from people in bars. Find a busines where it is difficult for a competitor to make easy money and then stay true to yourself, your family, your friends, your customers and your suppliers.

I am neither astute nor rich, but I have had 12 great years on Samui so far.

Certainly - someone 'at the bottom of their game' will struggle to survive here. You cannot stand still in life. If you are not pushing forward and growing, then you are going backwards. There is no standing still - it does not exist.

Sorry - a tad