Business not returning to Samet yet

BUSINESSES on Koh Samet are still reeling from July's oil spill, despite assurances from officials that the destination is clean and safe. 

At an event in Bangkok last night to promote tourism on the island, tourism and sports minister Somsak Phurisrisak, said the travel industry needs to focus on communicating the fact that the island has been given a clean bill of health (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 2, 2013). 

"Koh Samet is safe. We need to focus on promoting a positive message about Samet going forward," he said. 

Most visible traces of the oil spill were cleaned up within 10 days of the oil washing ashore on Ao Phae beach in late July, with the remaining slick dispersed by chemicals. However, recent media reports about tar balls, a mixture of oil and sand, washing ashore on the mainland and about higher levels of toxins being found in local seafood have done little to restore confidence in the island. 

Local businesses have seen trade plummet as a result. Said one resort operator based on Ao Phae beach, who declined to be named: “Business is very difficult now. Although the island is clean, every time there's something in the media about oil being spotted, we get cancellations." 

Thanadet Setachandana, owner of Udi's Scuba Diving, said public confidence in the island's safety has suffered a severe blow: "We can see the beach at high tide and low tide and there is no oil. The problem is people are worried about toxins from the oil or the chemicals used to disperse it that they cannot see." 

Thanadet said while business is currently very slow, the timing of the spill may help reduce the number of cancellations from foreign tourists in the short term. Ninety per cent of his customers are from Scandinavia, most of whom would have booked their holiday before the spill took place.

Sourced: ttgasia