Tourist officials said over 70,000 visitors were expected to visit the country’s most popular destinations and leave around 833 million baht during the long holiday this week.
Nanthawan Siripoksapat, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Surat Thani office, said relaxed Covid-19 restrictions, the government’s “We Travel Together” scheme and attractive Thai tourist activities are likely to drive an average spend of 2,121 baht per tourist per day.
The events that tend to attract the most visitors are a Full Moon Party on Poh Phangan and scuba-diving near Koh Tao. Moreover, the “We Travel Together” scheme helps tourists save on hotel bookings.
However, high fuel prices may be a turn-off for some people during the festive period, Mr. Nanthawan said.
Tourists started arriving in Surat Thani this weekend to join the events marking Asarnha Bucha on July 13 and Buddhist Lent on July 14, local operators reported. Many took Monday and Tuesday off work to extend the holiday to nine days.
Meanwhile, provincial authorities rely on strategies to attract more visitors. On Koh Phangan, a new Don Sak pier–Koh Phangan ferry service is expected to launch later this month, Mayor Apichart Limsuwan announced yesterday.
According to Mr. Apichart, the local office has reached an agreement with Seatran Ferry Co to offer four trips a day, as there is currently only one service operator.
The William Russell website has ranked Koh Phangan as the world’s greatest place for “workations” this year, highlighting the island’s potential to become a popular travel destination.
