Jul. 27--The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is hoping to turn Ko Samui into a national model of a world-class sustainable tourism development. 

A three-day workshop, due to start today on the southern resort island, marks the first official recognition by the government of the need to focus directly on the island. 

TAT governor Pradech Phayakvichien said the problems and constraints affecting Ko Samui, such as the environment and transport, would be discussed by local authorities, government agencies and private operators. 

The seminar will be chaired by Somsak Thepsutin, the Prime Minister's Office minister in charge of tourism. 

The first day will begin with a tour around the island to observe existing tourism development while the following two days will be spent discussing future tourism needs. 
 

"From the seminar, we have to be able to identify what is the status and scenario of Ko Samui. We have to maintain its symbol of coconut trees and balance nature with tourism developments and attractions," said Mr Pradech.  In the past 10 years, Samui has become a popular destination with 820,000 tourists visiting the island last year, an increase of 5.9 percent from the previous year.

Beach at the Tongsai Grand Villas 84 Moo 5 Bophut, Ko Samui,  Surat Thani, Thailand

Mr Pradech said that Bangkok Airways president Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth had proposed building a streetcar railway around the island as an alternative transport service. 

He said that the island was also being considered for development as a cruise centre for the Gulf of Thailand. 

"Currently, most cruising trips have too many days at sea. Ko Samui may become a centre for cruises to stop over before travelling on to Singapore or Hong Kong," said Mr Pradech, adding that a marina may be built to facilitate the service. 

Given the high airfare to Samui, Mr Pradech said other modes of transport should be developed to provide more choices. 

For example, Thai Airways International, which offers Bangkok-Surat Thani flights, could join with the Surat Thani-Samui ferry operator to offer direct luggage check-through from Bangkok to Samui. 

As well, he said, the ferry service monopoly should be ended in order to allow more competition and improve quality. 

More on-land activities would also be created to attract tourists and extend the length of stay, he said. 

Other issues expected to be raised at the seminar include pollution levels and the economic situation of the local community. 

Ronald Scheter, managing director of Sawadee.com, a tourism web site and Internet service provider on Samui, said the major obstacle to the tourism business was the lack of high-quality air transport. 

"In the last five years, the tourists in Ko Samui have shifted from backpackers to family visitors. Now, backpackers are heading to Ko Phangan instead," he said. 

"Now most of the tourists coming to Samui are European middle-class families with some Chinese and Japanese. If Samui wants to attract more high-end tourists, a first-class air service and greater seat capacity are essential."Besides transport, infrastructure such as hotels and roads also had to be improved, said Mr Scheter. 

"Samui has the same potential as Phuket, but the government seems to pour more investment into Phuket than Ko Samui. That's why it cannot attract high-end visitors as Phuket does," he said. 

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