Locals, resort operators up in arms against ‘Samet in Love’ concert
Local residents and resort operators on tourist-destination Koh Samet have called on the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department to ban a concert scheduled for June on the tiny island off Rayong cost.
They want the Department to cancel the “Samet in Love 8” concert scheduled for June 3.
Prayoon Pongphan, chief of the National Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet, said he personally was against the concert because its timing would be close to the royal cremation rite, but the final decision would be made by the park department
Prayoon said he had forwarded the resolution of the local residents and operators of resorts on the island opposing the concert to the department chief.
He said local residents also want the concert to be scrapped from the calendar forever, as they do not benefit from the event other than having to deal with huge huge piles of garbage left behind.
Prayoon said he had just taken up his position and he had learned from his subordinates that the concert operator gave only a battery charger to the park office after the concert last year.
“Villagers had to shoulder huge piles of garbage left behind while the organiser took all the benefits,” Prayoon said.
Chanjira Sangsuwan, chairwoman of the Rak Samet Association, said villagers and all resort and hotel operators on the island do not want any concert to be held on the island again.
She said operators are willing to refund those who have booked rooms for the June 3 concert.
She said villagers got only meagre sums of money but the concert caused a lot of problems on the island, the local people and resort operators.