Bangkok Post – Thai tourism to Cambodian border island Koh Kut ‘still okay’: official

On By Pranco

PUBLISHED: November 10, 2024 at 3:55 PM

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai travels on a navy patrol boat to inspect Koh Kut in Thailand's eastern province of Trat on Saturday. His trip was aimed at boosting the confidence of local tourism operators, as well as morale among the soldiers stationed on the island to guard the Thai-Cambodian border. (Photo: Jakkrit Waewkhlaihong)

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai travels on a navy patrol boat to inspect Koh Kut in Thailand’s eastern province of Trat on Saturday. His trip was aimed at boosting the confidence of local tourism operators, as well as morale among soldiers stationed on the island to guard the Thai-Cambodian border. (Photo: Jakkrit Waewkhlaihong)

TRAT: A senior tourism official on Sunday dismissed claims that Koh Kut is a 30% hotel cancellation ratesaying occupancy rates remained high between November and January, in an effort to downplay concerns over the island’s controversial border issue with Cambodia.

Korakot Opas, director of the Trat provincial office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, spoke in response to the spread of information on social media and growing concerns from activists that Thailand There is a risk that sovereignty over Koh Kut will be lost in this eastern province to Cambodia as the government continues negotiations over disputed maritime areas under the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Mr Korakot said the occupancy rate on Koh Kut for November, December and January was 72.40% (35,570 local and international tourists), 74.51% (37,420) and 77.52% (39,810) respectively, based on data from 20 hotels on the island. nine of which are five-star and four-star facilities.

The growth in the number of tourists is expected to be 1% during this period.

“Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been trying to instill confidence among visitors (to Koh Kut) through clarifications from various government agencies and sending key government figures to visit the island. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul will visit Koh Kut on Monday, November 11,” Korakot said.

“The TAT aims to create understanding based on facts and tries not to mention the reports in question. We are going to launch a campaign to stimulate local tourism.”

Mr Anutin’s planned trip follows Saturday’s visit by Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to reaffirm Thailand’s territorial sovereignty over the island.

In addition to building trust among local residents, Mr. Anutin will monitor the progress of drinking and consumption water projects, investigate land ownership and listen to people’s concerns.

Koh Kut has been in the spotlight since critics recently opposed discussions on joint development of oil and gas resources in the Gulf under the controversial 2001 MoU framework, which they say could cause Thailand to lose territory.

Calls for the MoU to be scrapped are now increasing, pointing to Cambodia’s 1972 claim to half the island.