Chinese flock to KC Hotels’ Samui resort

KC RESORT and Over Water Villas Koh Samui is seeing a surge in arrivals from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The resort’s Chinese clientele has jumped from 20th to fifth position on its list of top source markets – after Australia, South Korea, Germany and the UK – in less than a year.

KC Hotels and Resorts area general manager, Andreas Kraemer, attributed the rise to the appointment of a Hong Kong sales representative last November, as well as direct Hong Kong-Samui flights, which he says have helped to boost short-term bookings.

Kraemer is hoping the Chinese market will become the resort’s second- or third-largest contributor by year-end, but remains confident that the Australia market will remain in top spot.

Opened in January 2008, the 95-key property has been attracting a steady stream of mainly leisure travellers, with more than 50 per cent coming from the Australian, South Korean and German wedding and honeymoon segments.

Meanwhile, KC Hotels and Resorts has set its sights on developing the Middle East source market and will appoint a sales representative in Tel Aviv, said Kramer. The group’s other sales representative offices are in London and Melbourne.

The group is also scheduled to open its second property in Koh Samui, the 45-key KC Beach Resort and Pool Villas, in February next year, and will take over an existing boutique property in Phuket about six months later.

By Sirima Eamtako

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