Thai resorts on island close for short of water

BANGKOK: -- Several hotels in Thailand's resort island Koh Tao have closed for short of water supply, local press reported on Monday.

Several resorts ran out of water had to turn away guests, though some tourists were allowed to stay when they agreed to buy drinking water for their personal use, The Nation newspaper quoted local official as saying.

"It's the worst water shortage in eight years," said Chairman of Koh Tao Administrative Organization Kobchai Saowalak.

He said that hotels on the island in Gulf Thailand would have to buy water from water-source owners if they did not have their own sources.

"This year's water shortage is more serious than in previous years," Thanee Viriyarattanaporn, director of the Natural Resourceand Environment Ministry's Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conversation, said earlier.

"So, we have suggested tourists to choose day trips instead of staying overnight at the parks," he said.

--Agencies 2004-04-19

scary thread. it poses the question should a shortage of water become clearly evident then we are talking about a negative downturn in tourism, agriculture and lastly vital business revenue.

also possible negative equity for those Thais who can afford to pay mortgage on a dwelling. did i mention that foreign investors in thai real estate could be adverselt affected too!

and the menacing songran festivities, although fun, have probably raped water reserves severly and officials will be scratching heads soon. i hope this does not become an achilles heal to the working peoples of the kingdom.

on a positive note i remember reading last month in the bangkok post probable Chinese investment in dam construction. let's see if those possibles become an eventuality as this looks most needed under these dry conditions. good luck peoples.

Thaimee.

Koh Tao is a very small island with very small water reserves and massive tourism. Water shortages there are no surprise, the island is way overbuilt for the amount of people its water resources can handle. I would also add, sewage, electric and basic infrastructure have not been built to accomodate the huge growth Tao has seen in the past few years. But this is also true for Phangan and Samui, as I have stated in another thread, although these islands produce a vast amount of tax income for Surat Thani Province, not enough is plowed back into them to adequately deal with the tourist influx. Although I must add, mainland Surat Thani has wonderful pothole free roads!

Must have just been imagining it last week in Koh Tao when everyone with access to a pickup truck had filled several 150liter drums full of water and spraying everyone.There was more water on the roads than in the gulf!

But seriously this year hasnt been quite so busy as last but I'd still like to hear of a resort having closed.I havent heard of a single resort closing.Plenty of water in our well and not brackish like sometimes.Any one tell me which resort if any has closed?

Each year boats carrying water come to Koh Tao to sell to resorts without roads.What has changed this year??

Marc