KOH Samui hotels posted an islandwide average occupancy rate of about 62 per cent in the first eight months of the year, up from 50 per cent during the same period last year.
Bannasat Ruangjan, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, said he was expecting a 60 per cent average occupancy rate for the entire year, taking into account the sluggish performance during the flood in end-March, and the low period coming up in October-November.
“The prospect for next year looks good too, as Koh Samui is getting more flights – from Singapore – (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 27) and new markets such as China,” he said, adding that Chinese visitors to the island were mostly from the high-end segment.
Meanwhile, Saiphayom Somsuk, chief of Koh Samui Tourism Coordination Centre, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the office would continue to promote the destination to up-market travellers from both European and Asian markets, and would ramp up efforts to entice honeymooners, weddings and families.
“The codeshare agreement between Bangkok Airways and SilkAir on the Singapore-Samui route will allow us to attract more wedding couples from Australia, on top of the mature wedding market from Europe, especially France and Germany,” she said.
Saiphayom added that Koh Samui had recently been selected by TAT as one of four areas in the country – along with Mae Hong Son, Chiang Khan and Nan – to be promoted as green tourism destinations to high-end visitors.
By Sirima Eamtako
