Thai Hoteliers Wring Hands Over Drought

[george]

Hoteliers wring hands over drought

The water shortage will be a major problem for hotel-operators on popular tourist islands during the Songkran festival, hoteliers and tour agents on many islands said.

Hoteliers on islands such as Samui, Phi Phi and Chang have been advised to keep some water in reserve for use during the coming festival.

The shortage, which started last November, will certainly affect hotels' operating costs in the next two or three months, said Sithi Tandavanitj, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), Southern Region. He added that Songkran, traditionally a time when much water is wasted, would be celebrated on many islands but tourists might not be attracted. With the violence in the South, tourists are more likely to travel to safer areas.

The general manager of the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel Chiang Mai agreed that the water shortage would trouble tourists. Chiang Mai will hold a Lanna Songkran festival, planned to be the biggest of all Songkran activities.

Phi Phi Natural Resort's executive director ML Chanchot Jompunut said the tap-water crisis was likely to make tourists avoid the island.

"The owners of almost 2,000 guest rooms on the island have already advised their customers to save as much water as possible," said Sithi.

The water crisis is the worst in around 10 years. He said many hotels and resorts had bought water directly from Phuket, which still has a reliable supply.

Reungnam Jaikhang, a hotel operator and president of the Samui Island Tourism Association, said that not a lot of water remained in two lakes on the island.

However, tourism operators have not yet seen a serious problem with water shortages.

Koh Chang, another island on the east coast of Thailand, is in a more serious situation with water supply. "Local people are selling 4,000 cubic litres for about Bt600," said Sakol Sunate, president of the Trat Tourism Association. He said the many new hotels and resorts that had been built on the island were "the main cause of the shortage".

Some hotels find their own water by digging. Sakol said the association would call on local government agencies to make more tap water available on the island to meet the demand.

The THA's southern chapter also plans to work with private and government sectors to produce more water for Songkran.

--The Nation 2004-04-04

[Ricardo]

Save water - bath/shower with a friend

[KevinN]

Drilling on an island is not a very good idea for fresh water supply's.

the size of the island has some bearing on just how much water you can draw off the aquifer before it is contaminated with sea water.

That has happened on the long peninsula that is Baja Calif,or Baja Mexico,which ever you prefer.They have drilled for fresh water to irrigate the farm crops of strawberries ,Tomatoes, and row crops that are the main exports to USA. Now they have a ration as to the amount of water you can draw from the wells as they are starting to draw in sea water.