Koh Samui: Holiday island is in a "coma" on its last tourism legs

[mr mr 5,508]

save samui and thailand.......free the weed. 

[Bangyai 784]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

He said investors in places like Phuket and Samui are waiting in the wings to move in.

 

Vultures waiting for their prey to die so they can pick over the carcass.

[spidermike007 36,952]

22 minutes ago, philthebook said:

Coco Tams which is one of the most expensive beach bars (250 baht + for a cocktail) was packed last weekend, they were turning people away at 18:30. 

 

 

 

There are a few places on the island, who are doing good marketing, and attracting crowds. This is by no means any indication of what is going on now, on Samui. The local people are suffering big time. 

[cyril sneer 3,498]

1 hour ago, Phuketshrew said:

The expensive flight monopoly that Bangkok Airways has doesn't help. I just looked and the cheapest return flight BKK - USM is 4,460 baht. Add to that the still relatively expensive hotels and it is little wonder that holidaymakers are going elsewhere.

they are to blame rather than covid imo

[spidermike007 36,952]

Samui and the southern islands have been devastated by the lack of tourists. The Thais have picked up some of the slack, due to the lack of foreigners and the low prices. They rarely ever set foot on Samui, in the past. That is helping a bit. But, the process of attrition is taking place, and more and more restaurants, hotels, shops and tourist related spots are closing every day. However, Samui had countless issues prior to Covid. The stunning lack of local pride, alot of rip offs, the exact same taxi mafia issues as Phuket, with zero ability on the part of any officials, much less the army, to address them (nobody likes paying 400 baht to go three or four km.), the Bangkok Air monopoly, etc. etc. None of those issues were being addressed, and the quality of tourist on Samui has been dropping for years now.

 

Shots from a recent trip to Samui. It is quite sad being there, and seeing what is happening, though many locals are correctly stating how much cleaner the island is now. Many of the massage shops have closed, most of the bars have closed, and hundreds and hundreds of restaurants and hotels have closed. I hear there are hundreds of hotels for sale, at 50% off. 

 

The longer they wait, the harder it will be to restore the industry. People have short memories. Thailand was already being forgotten by millions, before Covid, due to a dozen reasons. Now? Too many alternatives. This administration continues to see Thailand as the COTU (center of the universe). Say it ain't so! No humility seem to be getting learned as of now. The army needs to figure out a way to muster up some courage, and re-open the nation to tourism. There are many ways it can be done safely, and there will be some risk, but nothing like the risk of not opening, and remaining sealed off from the world, like early 19th century Japan. Not even close.
 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by spidermike007

[Peter Denis 6,607]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

...

Shots from a recent trip to Samui. It is quite sad being there, and seeing what is happening, though many locals are correctly stating how much cleaner the island is now.

Wow, a true ghost town!

[IraqRon 472]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

This was posted 1 day ago in Samui looks more like a Shanty town never mind ghost town

 

 

Most Thai cities/villages look like shanty towns to me.

[philthebook 458]

29 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Samui and the southern islands have been devastated by the lack of tourists. The Thais have picked up some of the slack, due to the lack of foreigners and the low prices. They rarely ever set foot on Samui, in the past. That is helping a bit. But, the process of attrition is taking place, and more and more restaurants, hotels, shops and tourist related spots are closing every day. However, Samui had countless issues prior to Covid. The stunning lack of local pride, alot of rip offs, the exact same taxi mafia issues as Phuket, with zero ability on the part of any officials, much less the army, to address them (nobody likes paying 400 baht to go three or four km.), the Bangkok Air monopoly, etc. etc. None of those issues were being addressed, and the quality of tourist on Samui has been dropping for years now.

 

Shots from a recent trip to Samui. It is quite sad being there, and seeing what is happening, though many locals are correctly stating how much cleaner the island is now. Many of the massage shops have closed, most of the bars have closed, and hundreds and hundreds of restaurants and hotels have closed. I hear there are hundreds of hotels for sale, at 50% off. 

 

The longer they wait, the harder it will be to restore the industry. People have short memories. Thailand was already being forgotten by millions, before Covid, due to a dozen reasons. Now? Too many alternatives. This administration continues to see Thailand as the COTU (center of the universe). Say it ain't so! No humility seem to be getting learned as of now. The army needs to figure out a way to muster up some courage, and re-open the nation to tourism. There are many ways it can be done safely, and there will be some risk, but nothing like the risk of not opening, and remaining sealed off from the world, like early 19th century Japan. Not even close.
 

 

 

 

Those photos are over 6 months old, it's looking a bit better now, at least the road has been fixed.

[GeorgeCross 6,638]

2 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

The expensive flight monopoly that Bangkok Airways has doesn't help. I just looked and the cheapest return flight BKK - USM is 4,460 baht. Add to that the still relatively expensive hotels and it is little wonder that holidaymakers are going elsewhere.

 

actually thats chep for them it used to be 10K+ return when i lived there 

[spidermike007 36,952]

2 minutes ago, philthebook said:

 

Those photos are over 6 months old, it's looking a bit better now, at least the road has been fixed.

The photos with the green net in front, and the destroyed buildings was taken about 10 weeks ago. Not looking better according to several friends who live there. They tell me more and more places are closing daily. 

[AlfHuy 2,375]

10 minutes ago, philthebook said:

 

Those photos are over 6 months old, it's looking a bit better now, at least the road has been fixed.

And more dogs now.

[LivinLOS 5,763]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He said investors in places like Phuket and Samui are waiting in the wings to move in.

There you go then.. problem solved.. 

So long.. Thanks.. and Bye.. 

 

[Changoverandout 465]

1 hour ago, philthebook said:

 

Those photos are over 6 months old, it's looking a bit better now, at least the road has been fixed.

 

I hope so, my wife and I are going t Mae Nam next month.

First time to Samui.

 

As we don’t particularly like crowds of tourists it should be fine as long as some restaurants are open.

[LivinLOS 5,763]

If its in such freefall.. Do feel free to tag me or PM any fire sale villas, because I am not yet seeing much that looks like panic sale bargains. 

Personally prefer Lamai and south.. Leam Set to Taling Ngam.. Places that still feel coconut tree and island'y..  Or even hillside in the Na Muang zone... More than the bophut, chaweng, Choeng Mon, over developed messes.. 

But lets see the bargains ?? anywhere... say 8 - 20 mil.. So far all I see is the same listings, for breeze block 'villas' on 400m of land still asking 12 / 15 / more.. 

Sure theres some cheap rents, with unlikely renewal rates next year.. But not like 08 crisis sales.. 

[firestar 1,045]

People take the SAME pictures of Chaweng beach road over and over again, yes that road is deserted not only because of Covid but because they are digging it up to bury the power lines other places like Fisherman are quite busy.

 

Also I am looking for Hotels for sale and have found no more than 5 or 6 and none in good areas. It is bad but not as bad as it is made it out to be

 

 

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Edited December 18, 2020 by firestar