The officials in charge of tourism anticipate a considerable uptick in the number of tourists who visit the islands located in the southern area this year.
According to Suphakhan Yodchun, the director of the Tourism Authority Office of Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan, the islands in the province of Surat Thani received 2.3 million people between the months of January and October 2022, resulting in income of more than 40 billion baht.
In addition, the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park recorded an increase in the number of visitors visiting Maya Bay in the province of Krabi, with an average of 4,100 persons visiting each day. Since the bay was temporarily closed from August to September for habitat restoration works, the authorities believe the statistic to be a favorable sign of the success of the efforts.
In the meanwhile, officials have asked all visitors to observe the restrictions of the national park in order to reduce the park’s influence on the ecosystem. These regulations include not swimming in the water, not collecting marine animals, and only using sunscreen that is reef-safe. The bay had been closed for habitat restoration for three years prior to the closure that will last for two months, and the officials have stressed that they want to protect as many of the natural resources that are found in the region as they possibly can.
