Why calling Koh Tao ‘Death Island’ is just hype  

Murder, suicides and fatal accidents can and do happen anywhere and all the time on this planet. To single out Koh Tao smacks of a conspiracy to destroy its fame. The atmosphere on the island is festive and relaxed, and both binge drinking and snorting of “powders” are prevalent. You can’t expect police to protect every tourist, unless they are authorised to bust wild parties, frisk suspicious characters for drugs, enforce a curfew and tuck every tourist into bed by 10pm. You can’t protect young and reckless tourists from themselves.
It’s up to tourists to use their common sense. For example, don’t swim or go diving in deep water alone, stay away from the pool and diving board when drunk and don’t take risks when getting high. Remember that drugs and alcohol can be lethal and that the dangers are lurking everywhere you go, not just on Koh Tao.
Be careful, relax and have fun – just like the 500,000 tourists who enjoy Koh Tao each year and leave safely with nothing more than happy memories.
Somsak Pola
Samut Prakan