Samet oil situation under control: TAT

03 Aug 2013  2038 | World Travel News

THE impact of last Saturday's oil spill off Koh Samet (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 30, 2013) has been limited to the island's northern beach, and the Thai government is taking action to assist local businesses affected by the situation, according to the country's NTO.
According to an update released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), only 10 per cent of the original spill remains on the sole affected area of the island, Ao Phrao. TAT estimates that the remaining sludge will be removed within one or two days. While slick has been found on other northern areas on Koh Samet, these areas are not open for beach activities.
Some 500 personnel of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, navy personnel and volunteers had facilitated a rapid clean-up effort, it said.
Swimming can still be done on the eastern shores of the island, including the beaches of Had Sai Kaew, Ao Wong Duean, Ao Phai, Ao Kio and Ao Karang. 
Furthermore, the size of the oil film has shrunk from 9km2 on July 31 to 5km2 and the density of the spill, thinned “considerably”. The nearby Plateen Island, Kham Island and Kudee Island also remain totally unaffected. 
The update reported that Thailand’s minister of tourism and sports, Somsak Pureesrisak, was in Koh Samet and would be meeting local tourism operators to deal with the fall-out of the oil spill.
Initiatives including tax cuts and marketing efforts are on the table, and local banks are also ready to assist, allege local news reports.
The minister has also been quoted as saying the Thai cabinet is all for PTT Global Chemical, the company responsible for the spill, compensating hotels for lost business due to last-minute cancellations.

Sourced: ttgasia

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