Will you go to Koh Tao?

[canuckamuck]

Just curious to see if opinions have been changed by recent events on the island.

The island was a place I was hoping to visit sometime. Now I doubt I ever will. I have friends who are coming for their honeymoon. They will go spend time in the gulf but they won't go to Koh Tao now either. How about the rest of you? Is it a place you will still visit?

[submaniac]

I do not see why it would present a problem to go. After what has happened, and the subsequent scrutiny by the police and public, I would think that the island would be one of the safest in the country. Let's put it this way, I find it highly unlikely that there would be a repeat of what occurred anytime in the near future.

[ukrules]

This place is now on my permanent shit list.

[draftvader]

I just voted that I wouldn't go and I would convince others to avoid it. Why?

submaniac, you are right about the safety. That is not the issue though. Thai and foreigner alike do not believe what is happening there. We are all dead certain that it is family members of a well connected individual on that island. Until RTP allow independent (and being that this is a British Citizen perhaps Scotland Yard would be the polite thing to do) body to run the DNA tests I doubt any of us will believe what is happening.

If you go to Koh Tao you will be paying into the hands of the rapist/killers. I won't believe otherwise until a reliable body is allowed to examine the evidence.

[longstebe]

This place is now on my permanent shit list.

Would have to agree with this.

[AYJAYDEE]

why not? no more corrupt or dangerous than any other thai resort

[mauGR1]

That place gives me the creeps.. I would rather swim in the Chao Praya.

[jdinasia]

I like it there and would happily return

[Goshawk]

Nerves & feelings are raw right now . . totally understandable. But it's not the actual island's fault that a slaying & possible cover up/corruption tarnished it's appeal is it? i mean, people still continue to visit Lower Manhattan in droves to marvel at it's "beauty" don't they? . . . Personally i wouldn't go to Koh Tao though, but that's because i'd be bored sh*tless there, & nothing to do with these recent events.

[jdinasia]

Nerves & feelings are raw right now . . totally understandable. But it's not the actual island's fault that a slaying & possible cover up/corruption tarnished it's appeal is it? i mean, people still continue to visit Lower Manhattan in droves to marvel at it's "beauty" don't they? . . . Personally i wouldn't go to Koh Tao though, but that's because i'd be bored sh*tless there, & nothing to do with these recent events.

I have friends there. I dive and snorkel and I like a place that is fairly calm in the evening.

[trainman34014]

Nope; deprive them of the thing they love most...MONEY

[submaniac]

I just voted that I wouldn't go and I would convince others to avoid it. Why?

submaniac, you are right about the safety. That is not the issue though. Thai and foreigner alike do not believe what is happening there. We are all dead certain that it is family members of a well connected individual on that island. Until RTP allow independent (and being that this is a British Citizen perhaps Scotland Yard would be the polite thing to do) body to run the DNA tests I doubt any of us will believe what is happening.

If you go to Koh Tao you will be paying into the hands of the rapist/killers. I won't believe otherwise until a reliable body is allowed to examine the evidence.

You may be right about that (actually probability is favoring you). I'm not in country right now so I am not as caught up on the information surrounding the case. I do not think that itis likely to be repeated given the scrutiny that is on the area, but from what I'm reading on TV news, I do smell a cover up as well. With all of the mishandling of the case (the multiple arrests of people who were subsequently released) as well as a concern that the police may have forced confessions, I would change my vote to not go.

[DP25]

Won't go, but not because of the murder or the police investigation.

I won't go because in response to this murder, the people of the island decided to place an entrance fee on all visitors to the island. Likely they will soon realize their stupidity and backtrack on this idea, but that they even came up with it in the first place, rather than taking responsibility to protect the people visiting their island and making them rich on their own, is disgusting.

[jdinasia]

Won't go, but not because of the murder or the police investigation.

I won't go because in response to this murder, the people of the island decided to place an entrance fee on all visitors to the island. Likely they will soon realize their stupidity and backtrack on this idea, but that they even came up with it in the first place, rather than taking responsibility to protect the people visiting their island and making them rich on their own, is disgusting.

And yet... The people cannot and it has not happened

...

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm not into diving, so, no I have no immediate plans to visit.

[HooHaa]

nope, but thats only because the last time i went no one would rent me a room because i wasnt diving

[Boxclever]

It's not the lack of security that prevents me from ever going there, it's the thought of sun baking on a beach knowing what had happened there.

[Thai at Heart]

I do not see why it would present a problem to go. After what has happened, and the subsequent scrutiny by the police and public, I would think that the island would be one of the safest in the country. Let's put it this way, I find it highly unlikely that there would be a repeat of what occurred anytime in the near future.

There has been a fit up job on a crime of extreme violence, and u don't think there is much chance it may happen again.

Beyond that, you think that the authorities are actually doing anything significant to protect anyone. Man TAT does a good line of rosey specs

[jdinasia]

A fit up job..

.

Possibly. I rather doubt it though.

[uptheos]

Not go somewhere because murders have happened there?

Now I have to cross off most of my bucket list places.

[Sigurris]

Imagine the unthnkable. A hiso islander kills two tourists and frames some Burmese. Gets away with it. Would that make the real killer feel invincible or would he learn his lesson? Its a tricky one but I would not want my kids going there.

[jdinasia]

Not go somewhere because murders have happened there?

Now I have to cross off most of my bucket list places.

If you add places people died...

[canuckamuck]

It is not the fact that murders have occurred, but it appears the mafia operation there operates with more than the usual hubris and impunity. Visiting would be equivalent to endorsement.

[SoiBiker]

Yes. Been before, would go again.

I wouldn't stay on Sairee beach though. Not because I think it's unsafe, but because it's an over-developed dump full of irritating backpackers.

[jdinasia]

It is not the fact that murders have occurred, but it appears the mafia operation there operates with more than the usual hubris and impunity. Visiting would be equivalent to endorsement.

Are you stating that these things do not happen in CNX? Etc??

[Bender]

for all the people that i love, for my family, for my family friends, i will lobying against taking their holiday in thailand.

Because i do care for them! And now nothing disgust me more than a thai with a sneaky/crocodile/psychotic smile.

[canuckamuck]

JDINASIA

Are you stating that these things do not happen in CNX? Etc??

Which things? What is the the reputation of Koh Tao compared to CNX. I see a difference.

[jdinasia]

Which things? What is the the reputation of Koh Tao compared to CNX. I see a difference.

Murder.. Corruption.. Mis-handled investigations.. Etc..

That is what you are suggesting happened on Koh Tao, right??

[SoiBiker]

Some people seem to reacting like this is the first time anything bad ever happened in Thailand.

[slipperylobster]

Not until justice is served...to the correct perpetrators. ...

I hope everyone feels the same.