Koh Samui Tourism Picks Up

 

Amazingly awesome Sunset in Koh Samui
Photo Courtesy thailandislandtravel.blogspot.com

Propelled by additional international flights and upgraded aircraft coming in, the travel industry in Koh Samui island, a popular tourist destination in Thailand, showed substantial improvement last year, as per indicators from C9 Hotelworks, a consulting firm. Its analysis of tourist bookings in 2012 revealed that the island’s hotel occupancy rate stood at a record high of 68% which is significantly above the 59% clip recorded in 2011.

According to Bill Barnett, C9 managing director, the uptick in Koh Samui hotel occupancy is traceable to the ongoing fleet upgrade of Bangkok Airways for its flights bound for the island. With this move, over 189,000 airline seats annually are being made available for island-bound tourists.

New urban offerings

There are other factors which can further stimulate tourist inflow into Koh Samui, Barnett added. Local tourist facilities, like the ShaSa Resort at the island’s southern tip, will likely derive benefit from the 48,000-square-metre shopping complex being developed by the Central Group. Island projects such as these will bring in more urban offerings and, in the process, draw more Asian middle class visitors.

At present, the pristine white beaches of Koh Samui and water-based leisure activities are the primary drivers to its tourism industry in. Its profile of visitors is generally of European origin, principally Germany and the UK. Domestic tourists or those from other parts of Thailand constitute another important segment of the island’s travel industry market. These locals, combined with the Germans and the British, account for 27% of tourist arrivals in Koh Samui in 2012.

Notably, the island’s guests from the Russian Federation are also poised to grow in significance too. Last year, these tourists accounted for 15% of the total visitors in Phu Ket, another Thai tourist hub.

Meeting power demand

It is likewise notable that tourist industry players are laying the groundwork for the further influx of foreign visitors. For accommodations, 459 new rooms are set to be added to the current 17,479 rooms in the next two years.

Also, a new power distribution station has been opened, thereby addressing the issue of power blackouts which hit Koh Samui late last year to the detriment of the travel trade. This new station will be served by a 54-kilometre power cable from a generator in the mainland. All in all, this project costs 4.2 billion baht and will not only benefit Koh Samui but also its neighboring Koh Phangan. This facility can reportedly provide the power capacity sufficient enough to meet the local demand for the next ten years. 

More Flights for Bangkok Airways

Koh Samui has become such a popular destination that additional flights are now available

Bangkok Airways, a regional airline in Thailand, which has the Koh Samui Island among its premier destinations, is planning to add more local flights in two of its routes. The airline said it is launching two daily flights from Bangkok to Krabi this April and four flights weekly from Bangkok to Mandalay in September. These two routes were being expanded due to rising demand, the airline disclosed, adding that other airlines like Thai AirAsia have already moved in on the opportunity.

Nevertheless, it emphasized that boosting its KohSamui travel services remains prominent in Bangkok Airways’ radar screen. Regulatory restrictions currently prevent the airline from operating more flights out of the island’s airport, which the airlines also owns and operates. It is seeking clearance from environmental authorities for an increase to fifty in the number of flights allowed through Koh Samui from the present thirty-eight. 

Making the flight times in the airport more frequent by one hour is expected to accomplish this. The present 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. flight schedules in the island, in effect, would be changed to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., thus accommodating more flights and tourist arrivals drawn by Koh Samui attractions.  

Out of the thirty-eight flights now allowed at the Koh Samui airport, thirty-one are accounted for by Bangkok Airways; the remaining seven are shared by Malaysia’s Firefly, Singapore’s SilkAir, and Thai Airways. Obtaining government permission for the added flights is pivotal to Bangkok Airways’ aim to launch more international routes to Koh Samui. 

The airline is eying possible links with the cities of Taipei and Shanghai. The island’s airport is already serving flights from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.

A Bangkok airways executive said that the airline wants to diversify its market. The airline, which marks its 45^th year this 2013, draws a significant portion of its revenue from its Koh Samui airport and flights operation. The airline executive noted that the rising number of hotel rooms at the resort island, estimated at 10,000 at present, indicate an incoming fast growth in demand for airline seats.

Additional flight frequencies on existing routes that Bangkok Airways likewise plans includes increasing to five flights a week it’s Bangkok–Male and Bangkok–Luang Prabang services from the current four and two, respectively. Daily flights on the Koh Samui–Phuket and Bangkok–Chiang Mai routes may also be increased to six, while the daily Koh Samui–Chiang Mai flights may be bumped up to seven.

Bangkok Airways To Increase Tourist Traffic From Hong Kong

Bangkok Airways is the best way to get to Koh Samui

Koh Samui’s economy practically thrives on its tourism industry, which is fuelled by hundreds of businesses spread across the small island. A significant portion of its tourist traffic comes from Bangkok Airways, the island’s only airport, which has monopolized commercial flights over the past years.

With only one airline serving the tropical destination, as well as numerous flight restrictions established by airport’s corporate office, business owners and even governing officials have made numerous complaints regarding the lack of direct trips going to the island.

As of today, this airport operates only three international flights from the resort island in the Gulf of Thailand going to three cities, namely: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong.

That being said, Bangkok Airways has finally decided to respond to public demand by increasing its number of flights between Koh Samui and Hong Kong from ten per week, all the way up to fourteen, denoting a considerable 40% increase, starting this Dec. 1.

In addition, vice-president ML Nandhika Varavarn says that the private carrier also plans on offering a direct link between the former crown colony and Suvarnabhumi airport sometime during the year 2013.

"Bangkok Airways is very excited about adding more flights to Koh Samui for the Hong Kong market, because we know how popular a destination it is for Hong Kong people who just want to relax and enjoy themselves," says ML Nandhika.

While Koh Samui does have its fair share of tourists from Hong Kong every year, the convenience of being able to select different direct flights – throughout the entire week -- going to the tropical destination will certainly boost the number of visits significantly.

The tourist traffic coming from Hong Kong will most likely include more first-time visitors, which is also great for businesses within Samui. Many believe that all it takes for the island to transform a new vacationist into a repeat visitor is half-a-day.

A strong customer base is something that this tropical hotspot can be proud about, as a large portion of its one million visitors per year has spent some time in the island before. Such a trend doesn’t come as a surprise to locals, as Samui is well known for its diverse range of top-of-the-line accommodations, premium services, and trendy entertainment establishments around the world.

To ramp up the number of visitor’s annually even higher, proposals for a second airport in Koh Samui are currently being discussed.

Traveling to Koh Samui Via Bangkok Airways

Most people like to use Bangkok airways to get to Koh Samui (photo courtesy flickr.com)

Considering how uncomfortable trips to tourist hotspots can easily turn anyone off towards going there in the first place, making arrangements with the right travel agency is unquestionably a must.

There are tons of Koh Samui attractions, on the island, which could easily get any vacationer overly excited. But to ensure that the journey from Bangkok to the tropical paradise is stress-free, flying via Bangkok Airways is frequently suggested by seasoned travellers.

Despite the fact that the trip lasts roughly one hour only, this airline actually feeds passengers food, unlike some of the other commercial airline companies.

For those who travel regularly, participating in the frequent flyer program, known as “Flyer Bonus”, is highly recommended. Members are given the opportunity to earn exclusive and special rewards, such as preferential check-in, increased luggage allowance, plus more. Moreover, not only will a passenger receive bonus points for flying (on their plane) during his or her birthday, signing up to become a member can be done easily through the Internet.

After arriving from the refreshing, stress-free ride courtesy of Bangkok Airways comes the hard part, which is getting to see all of those Koh Samui attractions.

There’s a wide range of mediocre to premium accommodations available (most of which are proximate to the popular crowd-drawers) throughout the entire area. For those working with a smaller budget, condominiums are a cheap yet comfortable alternative. These types of residential units for rent come with all the basic furniture, fixtures, plus adjacent amenities that a vacationer will need to live comfortably.

As for those fortunate enough to work with a large spending allowance, and want nothing less than the best the island has to offer, ShaSa Resort & Residences is one commercial establishment in particular that can cater for such desires. Fitted with elegant furniture and fixtures, designer appliances, and multiple views of the magnificent ocean outside, this hotel can give its customers a whole lot more than the normal VIP treatment.

Whichever condo, hotel room, suite or villa a tourist may stay at, it’s safe to say that it should be near a variety of Koh Samui attractions. Moreover, these commercialized businesses typically provide guests with various means of transport to get to certain attractions – be it via boat or land vehicle.