Koh Chang has a bumper tourist (long) weekend

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/07/513.jpg

Tourists have been flocking to Koh Chang off the Trat coast, in the east of Thailand. The TAT says that they estimate some 30,000 people wold have visited the popular Thai island over the long weekend (which runs into tomorrow, the King’s birthday).


Kamphon Jaroenkhajornkun, president of the Trat Tourism Business Association says this weekend’s numbers are a record for the year.

“On Saturday, July 25, there were 10,537 tourists and 2,268 vehicles that crossed to Koh Chang. This broke the previous record for this year during Buddhist Lent.”
Becoming one of Thailand’s established getaway destinations, Koh Chang is a beautiful, semi-secluded island with an unspoiled natural environment, but still with all the modern day conveniences and a selection of accommodation and restaurants, swimming, kayaking and canoeing, and great entertainment options. Whilst it’s been a popular alternative for Thais heading out of Bangkok for a weekend or short break for years, it hasn’t ended up on the mass tourism map as yet.
Like all of Thailand’s tourist spots it’s been devoid of tourists since April and was eager to attract people back for this long weekend.
“Trat is one of the provinces in Thailand that has had no Covid-19 cases. Koh Chang is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the province and as a result attracted thousands of tourists this weekend.”
“During this long holiday we have estimated that there will be 30,000 visitors in Trat which will generate about 261 million baht in total to the local economy.”
The easiest, and most popular, way to get to Koh Chang, is to catch the #999 bus from Ekamai (Eastern) Bus Terminal in Bangkok to the two piers at Laem Ngop, where you can catch the short ferry trip from Trat over to Koh Chang. The times for departure are usually 7.45 am & 9 am everyday in Bangkok and the journey takes between 5 – 6 hours, depending on traffic.
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/koh-chang-has-a-bumper-tourist-long-weekend-video

Strange, just last week I read that Koh Chang is a virtual ghost island with empty hotels, closed restaurants and more workers than guests.

^Jomtien was really busy over the long weekend, between nice weather and some extra time off I guess a lot of Bangkokians said "fuck this, lets load up the car and go somewhere for a few days".

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Originally Posted by jabir

Strange, just last week I read that Koh Chang is a virtual ghost island with empty hotels, closed restaurants and more workers than guests.

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That's a normal July for Koh Chang. I guess the Bangkokians have been feeling a bit claustrophobic lately.

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Originally Posted by jabir

Strange, just last week I read that Koh Chang is a virtual ghost island with empty hotels, closed restaurants and more workers than guests.

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Almost as if it's a national holiday with good weather in low season.

Ref Pix Pre-Covid
Koh Chang Loi Krathong Festival 2019

Notice: some real live falang tourists are visible, although they may well be residents...

Attachment 55295Attachment 55294Attachment 55293Attachment 55292

Heading there Thurs hope it has died down a bit by then (there you go taxexile, add that update to your file to report on TC :D )

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Originally Posted by AntRobertson

(there you go taxexile, add that update to your file to report on TC )

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Be careful, Koh Chang has very few gingers this time of year, so you'll be easy to spot. :)

:smileylaughing:

I’ll blend in with the strawberry-blondes!

Easy to spot:

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2020/07/47.png

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Originally Posted by Headworx

^Jomtien was really busy over the long weekend, between nice weather and some extra time off I guess a lot of Bangkokians said "fuck this, lets load up the car and go somewhere for a few days".

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I was in LKM/Bukhaow area a couple of days ago, depressing, many closed bars and restaurants, credit to those few active and trying to make a go of it, but the girls outnumbered punters at most bars and every agogo we visited, and the general atmosphere was of lethargic people with a brave front.

Hope it picks up, can't see that happen for a while, but otoh those at the top will be sweeping in established businesses and properties for pennies in the £, so it's in their interests to make sure it does pick up.

Meanwhile, beyond Thailand gold is hitting new highs, two weeks ago talk was $2k by year end and now it's switched to month's end, while BoA is predicting 3k by end of next year; crypto is also perking up. Is that good news? As a holder of both I think ignoring the social costs, and despite the crooning from high places, even against what we've experienced to date it portends a fcuking disaster!

It is going to get far worse before it begins to get better - the Covid vaccine is still a long ways off. Opening the borders for tourism? Throw a dart at the board. And, as soon as a tourist brings Covid into Thailand - close the borders again.


http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1956527/fti-says-unemployment-could-hit-8m?cx_placement=recommend#cxrecs_s

The prolonged Covid-19 pandemic will likely leave up to 8 million people unemployed by the end of this year, says the Federation of Thai Industries.

Suchart Chantaranakaracha, the FTI's vice-chairman for labour affairs, said the total workforce in Thailand numbers 37.3 million, including those who work in services (47%), agriculture (30%) and factories (23%).

"Unemployment currently stands at 3.3 million as a result of the sluggish economy and Covid-19 outbreak," he said.

On the way back from Samet and I reckon it was about 95% Thai in a normally very farang orientated resort.

Hearing that there are some major delays and traffic jams on the Trat to U-Tapao Rd.

People returning back from the long weekend I suppose.

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Originally Posted by AntRobertson

I’ll blend in with the strawberry-blondes!

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My son mentioned Bacon Hair yesterday

I said: "Eh, could you repeat that ?"
The Bacon Hair - A Roblox Movie Trailer - YouTube

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Originally Posted by bowie

Ref Pix Pre-Covid
Koh Chang Loi Krathong Festival 2019

Notice: some real live falang tourists are visible, although they may well be residents...

Attachment 55292

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Or that might be tourists, given that the country wasn't locked down in early November last year, you jibbering fool

:rolleyes:

ahh yes, another willy whoosh moment... :rofl:

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Originally Posted by jabir

Strange, just last week I read that Koh Chang is a virtual ghost island with empty hotels, closed restaurants and more workers than guests.

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Punters probably having a field day. 2 or 3 ladies for the price of one

Koh Chang is one of the better places. A lot better than Koh samet which is a glorified camp site. Full of raving queens frolicking on the beach

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Originally Posted by Backspin

Full of raving queens frolicking on the beach

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You'd be in seventh heaven then . . .

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Originally Posted by panama hat

You'd be in seventh heaven then . . .

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Bowie also.

at least Backspin is not in denial.

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