TAT gets proactive to revive tourists' confidence in Koh Samet

This was a new effort of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to restore the tourism industry here after Ao Phrao Beach was hit by an oil spill three weeks ago. The message was clear: that the island is still safe and there are white sand beaches to explore. 

Tourism Minister Somsak Pureesrisak presided over the opening, along with his Gog Gag Tour of about 200 media people. He said pictures of the scene would be distributed to TAT’s 26 offices worldwide to help publicise the island as a way to restore foreign tourists’ confidence. 

At the event, 60 buyers from travel agencies from the Northeast and four associations from Bangkok were invited to meet with 19 hotel operators, but not all of them attended. This move was aimed at attracting tourists from Isan to fill the huge number of vacant rooms in the short term.

Worarat Kenknunthod, an executive at the Love Love Travel agency in Nakhon Ratchasima, said Samet was among the destinations of northeastern tourists, but now some were worried about safety and the contaminated sea water. For example, 150 people in two group tours had cancelled their trips to Samet with her company. 

Hotel operators welcomed the effort, but said it would not be very productive. Some said that they were invited just two days before the event started. They could not prepare anything to present. So far, there is no sign of recovery on the island.

Since the crisis, hotels have suffered a sharp drop in room bookings. The long weekend was an example. Normally, hotels on the island are almost 100 per cent full, but this year, occupancy was only 40 per cent at some properties.

To survive, they started to cut their room rate to half. Some of them said they were hurt doubly as their margin was slashed to online channels, especially Agoda. However, that has not helped boost customers either. 

‘‘It’s hard to predict the trend for Samet in the coming months because tourists come from all over the world and they know the situation from the news. The high season here starts in October and I’m not sure whether this will be their destination,’’ said Surajai Tummanont, managing director of Nimmanoradee Resort on Pakaraong Beach.

What she wants to do is invite diplomats to come here. What they see would be spread to their people, leading to the rebuilding of tourists’ warm feelings towards the island. In general, the occupancy rate will range from 70-90 per cent from October-December, then will be on the rise till May. She expressed concern that foreign tourists may shift their travel plans to Hua Hin and Koh Chang.

Neung Limpititaya, a hotel operator, said this was the worst scenario in the 15 years she has lived here. Occupancy is low and cancellations are high. Her restaurant, which used to be a major financial contributor, is still a basket case. The next headache is how to pay the wages of more than Bt60,000 per month to all 18 employees.

The situation is getting worse and she has received no assistance from PTT Global Chemical. She called on PTT to consider the post-crisis situation. Also, government agencies should be in harmony and send a single message to the public. If not, it will worsen the situation because it has been dominated by negative news.

‘‘I’m trying to stand on my own feet right now. But PTT must give a hand to help. I have got nothing from them. Maybe, PTT helps victims via a lucky draw,’’ she said.

Tourism Minister Somsak vowed to help. He has floated the idea of asking PTT and its affiliates to schedule their conferences and activities on the island to fill the empty rooms. 

On the promotion front, he has assigned TAT to help support operators to promote abroad at travel fairs including the JATA Travel Showcase 2013 in Tokyo from September 12-15 and also those in Moscow and China. All costs, except expenses for manning booths, will be borne by PTTGC.