Urgent Wake-Up Call For Koh Samui

[oldsailor35]

Back in the eighties, sumui and phangan were unspoilt, relaxing and beautiful place to be, then they built the airport.

Oh dear .......ere we go again !

[Tropicalevo]

Remove the airport, do a clean sweep of island businesses, homes and rid the island of unsavory, illegal and insightly stuff or risk losing tourism business and property values. The boat trip is quite ok and you can bring your car for god's sakes, but lets tax that(add island fee 500 Baht per vehicle which goes towards road maintenance). Its time that quality overtake quantity on Samui.

Sorry, but quality is a non word in Samui vocabulary

You are obviously speaking for yourself - I have no problem with quality. I have quality staff and we provide a quality service (but of course - we could always improve).

There are many others out that that I know of as well. I come across quality every day from both Thai and farangs. My glasses are not rose-tinted either. I have been in the service industry for over 40 years - trust me, I do know quality when I see it.

Mind you - there are also a lot of poor quality services out there - but they tend not to last too long

[erez54]

this urgent call come from the mayor of Samui for 16 years up to 4 years ago, in which even holes in the roads were not being taken care of. Where 100% of the money went all these 16 years?

But probably he knows how to run the many hotels and lands he got.

As his wife is running for mayor one should guess the rest.

[wildorchid]

And where in the 50 million the government said they where giving samui after the black out?

Well you me and the rest of thailand knows it is already gone into the pockets of the corrupt at the expence of those to whom it was suposed to asist.

[notmyself]

And where in the 50 million the government said they where giving samui after the black out?

Well you me and the rest of thailand knows it is already gone into the pockets of the corrupt at the expence of those to whom it was suposed to asist.

Gossip

[BusyBee123]

Back on the island next week, I do wonder which section of forrest will have been chopped down for yet another farang house to be built, so i would like to see the zonal idea progressed.

[DavoTheGun]

I agree the place is very much over rated, much better places around Thailand, everything much like Phuket, over priced rubbish!

[samuijimmy]

Obviously some people don't like it here.... so please don't come back.... interesting no one had actually said, where is better in Thailand ... it comes down to different strokes for different folks!

A vast majority of tourists have a good time and enjoy their stay here .... and keep coming back....

For those of us that live here, we enjoy being here or else we could move

Edited December 21, 2012 by samuijimmy

[Tropicalevo]

Crikey - this article has brought the Samui-hating trolls out!

I for one am glad that they are not here (I feel sorry for theiir neighbours though )

[Tropicalevo]

this urgent call come from the mayor of Samui for 16 years up to 4 years ago, in which even holes in the roads were not being taken care of. Where 100% of the money went all these 16 years?

But probably he knows how to run the many hotels and lands he got.

As his wife is running for mayor one should guess the rest.

So - please bear with me and see if I have this right.

The previous administration - that pretty well did buuggger all to improve things here (but great roads in Surat) - is saying that Samui needs to sort it's <deleted> out.

The last mayor has done more for this island than anyone else in my 12 years here.

The opposing candidate to the last (good) guy is the wife of the previous waster.

This is better than watching the telly.

Or have i got it wrong?

[samuijimmy]

Crikey - this article has brought the Samui-hating trolls out!

I for one am glad that they are not here (I feel sorry for theiir neighbours though )

Yeah !!! these type of threads gets them crawling out the wood work

[Gulfsailor]

this urgent call come from the mayor of Samui for 16 years up to 4 years ago, in which even holes in the roads were not being taken care of. Where 100% of the money went all these 16 years?

But probably he knows how to run the many hotels and lands he got.

As his wife is running for mayor one should guess the rest.

So - please bear with me and see if I have this right.

The previous administration - that pretty well did buuggger all to improve things here (but great roads in Surat) - is saying that Samui needs to sort it's <deleted> out.

The last mayor has done more for this island than anyone else in my 12 years here.

The opposing candidate to the last (good) guy is the wife of the previous waster.

This is better than watching the telly.

Or have i got it wrong?

That sums it up nicely...

[Tropicalevo]

Back on the island next week, I do wonder which section of forrest will have been chopped down for yet another farang house to be built, so i would like to see the zonal idea progressed.

Sorry - but you are not up on the facts.

Far more forest is cut down in National Parks and wilderness areas for Thai resorts and 'rich men's palaces' than on Samui.

Do they cut down teak trees on Samui? I don't think so. However, teak smuggling is rife across Thailand. Please let us keep thinks in perspective.

Mind you - I only cut down one coconut tree to build my houses (and I planted four more) but it does upset me when I see people clearing land - just to make it look nice to sell.

However, in the scheme of things - the Red Palm Weevil is doing far more damage than developers or farangs and I have not seen many Thais trying to eradicate the weevils. (It is expensive! 100 baht per tree per month.)

[samuijimmy]

I am not sure if any of these are teak trees, but if one wanders around the jungle here, you can come across what were once very large trees...

Obviously there long before the coconut groves were planted....

sort of reminds me of the wet coast of British Columbia

[Tropicalevo]

Hi Jimmy

I am not that good with 'planty stuff' but from the quick search that I did - the photos of teak trees on the interent look nothing like these two

Sad that the second one was cut down.

https://www.google.c...lient=firefox-a

[Rooo]

Remove the airport, do a clean sweep of island businesses, homes and rid the island of unsavory, illegal and insightly stuff or risk losing tourism business and property values. The boat trip is quite ok and you can bring your car for god's sakes, but lets tax that(add island fee 500 Baht per vehicle which goes towards road maintenance). Its time that quality overtake quantity on Samui.

Are you posting this for a bet?

[Foggy Bottom]

So, 10 billion in revenue and 500 million in taxes. Hmmm, 5% tax rate.

Probably 10 billion in GROSS revenue (total sales value) and 500 million in taxes on nett earnings after expenses. Even at a 20% tax rate, that would indicate a 25% nett profit, which is far higher than western tourism centres generate.

[BigC]

There are so many better places in Thailand and beyond to spend your holidays than the corrupt, over-built Koh Samui -

Obviously you have not seen much of Samui, to make a silly statement like that...

Look at images on this link and you'll see why....

Same problem all over the world. People want to get away from it all ... as long as they don't have to get out of the car/bus/train and walk very far.

i had a couple forang and thai from bangko come to visit me. they had not been to samui for 10 years. they go all over thailand for work but they sad that they were suprised as to how much more friendly the Thai people were and they could not beleive they could see forangs behinde the bar.

i noticed in Pattaya after being a samui man for so long that there was a big change in peoples attidude they looked at me like another pain in the arse forang.

Phuket is not quite lilke that but still not as friendly

Samui is quite a big island and beleive it or not it still has deserted beached.

Has some beatiful resorts and is the gate way for all the other samui Islands which are not developed for proepety and should stay like that

[carmine]

I agree the place is very much over rated, much better places around Thailand, everything much like Phuket, over priced rubbish!

You mean "out of your price range"

[carmine]

Crikey - this article has brought the Samui-hating trolls out!

I for one am glad that they are not here (I feel sorry for theiir neighbours though )

It always makes me smile that the anti Samui brigade persistently bleat on about the island being overpriced, not good value for money!

All this tells me is that Samui is out of their price range. Apart from the ludicrous electric situation nearly all Samui's problems are the same problems you will see all over Thailand.

[Travelman868]

sounds positive now they know how to deal with the problem there is no exxcuse to not make it work

i like spliting the island into finacial and resident areas. makes sense ar to protect people buying land next to a black moon party

also not sure what is meant about foeigner setting up business to buy houses and land. i think it is suggested to make it easier for forangs in tourist areas. which makes sense and would save a fortune in taxes for business and trying to sell from fornag comopany to fornag company is a nightmare

people still buy these places and buy land anyway it is creates more ghost houses when they cannot be sold due to people being put off by the selling proceedure.

Not everyone is married to a Thai which means that forang couples and familys have to pay allot each month in business tax just to won a house.

Malayasia you get a free 7 year visa with your house if u buy. but not good for me as i like Thailand.

If Thailand is split up into place were forangs can and connot buy land this shall stop thai worries that forangs shall buy out thailand.

They have a system in Cyprus where land is designated for forigners. More expensive than for locals.

However for Thailand I think it is better that farangs cannot buy. If they changed the rules then a 1 million baht house would go up to 5 + million.

[BigC]

Crikey - this article has brought the Samui-hating trolls out!

I for one am glad that they are not here (I feel sorry for theiir neighbours though )

It always makes me smile that the anti Samui brigade persistently bleat on about the island being overpriced, not good value for money!

All this tells me is that Samui is out of their price range. Apart from the ludicrous electric situation nearly all Samui's problems are the same problems you will see all over Thailand.

Samui is a tropical island on the other side of the world. All these problems i would expect on a tropical island which no nuclear power plant. Koh tao ecletric is worse yet the place is beauitful.

Another thing that i find funny is that people that are antie samui seem to be pro Koh Samui Forum. If i went to a place that i did not likw i would not be spending most of my days slaging it off i would be busy enjouing the place that i was currenlty in

[thaibeachlovers]

There are so many better places in Thailand and beyond to spend your holidays than the corrupt, over-built Koh Samui -

Obviously you have not seen much of Samui, to make a silly statement like that...

Look at images on this link and you'll see why....

http://www.thaivisa....o/page__st__225

I have seen a lot of Samui, and it's not a silly statement.

Overbuilt is an understatement. If I want to see concrete, I can stay home.

Anyone can take a pretty picture of anywhere, but it doesn't mean it's actually nice there.

[thaibeachlovers]

sounds positive now they know how to deal with the problem there is no exxcuse to not make it work

i like spliting the island into finacial and resident areas. makes sense ar to protect people buying land next to a black moon party

also not sure what is meant about foeigner setting up business to buy houses and land. i think it is suggested to make it easier for forangs in tourist areas. which makes sense and would save a fortune in taxes for business and trying to sell from fornag comopany to fornag company is a nightmare

people still buy these places and buy land anyway it is creates more ghost houses when they cannot be sold due to people being put off by the selling proceedure.

Not everyone is married to a Thai which means that forang couples and familys have to pay allot each month in business tax just to won a house.

Malayasia you get a free 7 year visa with your house if u buy. but not good for me as i like Thailand.

If Thailand is split up into place were forangs can and connot buy land this shall stop thai worries that forangs shall buy out thailand.

They have a system in Cyprus where land is designated for forigners. More expensive than for locals.

However for Thailand I think it is better that farangs cannot buy. If they changed the rules then a 1 million baht house would go up to 5 + million.

Thailand, IMO, is very sensible to prevent foreigners buying land. Land in my home country is unaffordable because rich foreigners buy land and drive the price up.

[carmine]

sounds positive now they know how to deal with the problem there is no exxcuse to not make it work

i like spliting the island into finacial and resident areas. makes sense ar to protect people buying land next to a black moon party

also not sure what is meant about foeigner setting up business to buy houses and land. i think it is suggested to make it easier for forangs in tourist areas. which makes sense and would save a fortune in taxes for business and trying to sell from fornag comopany to fornag company is a nightmare

people still buy these places and buy land anyway it is creates more ghost houses when they cannot be sold due to people being put off by the selling proceedure.

Not everyone is married to a Thai which means that forang couples and familys have to pay allot each month in business tax just to won a house.

Malayasia you get a free 7 year visa with your house if u buy. but not good for me as i like Thailand.

If Thailand is split up into place were forangs can and connot buy land this shall stop thai worries that forangs shall buy out thailand.

They have a system in Cyprus where land is designated for forigners. More expensive than for locals.

However for Thailand I think it is better that farangs cannot buy. If they changed the rules then a 1 million baht house would go up to 5 + million.

Thailand, IMO, is very sensible to prevent foreigners buying land. Land in my home country is unaffordable because rich foreigners buy land and drive the price up.

But Thailand doesn't prevent foreigners buying land.

[carmine]

There are so many better places in Thailand and beyond to spend your holidays than the corrupt, over-built Koh Samui -

Obviously you have not seen much of Samui, to make a silly statement like that...

Look at images on this link and you'll see why....

http://www.thaivisa....o/page__st__225

I have seen a lot of Samui, and it's not a silly statement.

Overbuilt is an understatement. If I want to see concrete, I can stay home.

Anyone can take a pretty picture of anywhere, but it doesn't mean it's actually nice there.

Another nonsensical post.

There are huge areas of the island with no developement and don't say i'm wrong because i am not

[thaibeachlovers]

There are so many better places in Thailand and beyond to spend your holidays than the corrupt, over-built Koh Samui -

Obviously you have not seen much of Samui, to make a silly statement like that...

Look at images on this link and you'll see why....

http://www.thaivisa....o/page__st__225

I have seen a lot of Samui, and it's not a silly statement.

Overbuilt is an understatement. If I want to see concrete, I can stay home.

Anyone can take a pretty picture of anywhere, but it doesn't mean it's actually nice there.

Another nonsensical post.

There are huge areas of the island with no developement and don't say i'm wrong because i am not

You are correct, but I can't stay there as there is no development, ergo no accomodation.

Samui used to be a great beach destination in the early 90's, then they ruined it with uncontrolled, environmentally destructive overbuilding in tourist areas. Just look at Chaweng- horrid concrete everywhere ( and I'm not wrong about that ).

[samuijimmy]

There are so many better places in Thailand and beyond to spend your holidays than the corrupt, over-built Koh Samui -

Obviously you have not seen much of Samui, to make a silly statement like that...

Look at images on this link and you'll see why....

http://www.thaivisa....o/page__st__225

I have seen a lot of Samui, and it's not a silly statement.

Overbuilt is an understatement. If I want to see concrete, I can stay home.

Anyone can take a pretty picture of anywhere, but it doesn't mean it's actually nice there.

well you stay in your concrete jungle, and keep your self ignorant .... you've not been been around Samui..... plainly obvious ....

[carmine]

I don't go to Chaweng.

I also love london but i wouldn't set foot in Peckham

[Gulfsailor]

this urgent call come from the mayor of Samui for 16 years up to 4 years ago, in which even holes in the roads were not being taken care of. Where 100% of the money went all these 16 years?

But probably he knows how to run the many hotels and lands he got.

As his wife is running for mayor one should guess the rest.

So - please bear with me and see if I have this right.

The previous administration - that pretty well did buuggger all to improve things here (but great roads in Surat) - is saying that Samui needs to sort it's <deleted> out.

The last mayor has done more for this island than anyone else in my 12 years here.

The opposing candidate to the last (good) guy is the wife of the previous waster.

This is better than watching the telly.

Or have i got it wrong?

My wife just got 3000 reasons to go vote.

This is in Ban Thai my wife just received 4000 to vote for no1 there is someone else coming this afternoon with a promise of 2000 to vote for the other so I told her to take all the money.

You can thank John 1, his wife, and all the other takers for this!