Tourism in Trat province - home to famous islands in the Gulf of Thailand such as Koh Kud, Koh Mak and Koh Chang, is gradually improving as visitors start to return after pandemic restrictions eased.
A pier on Koh Mak island in Trat province of Thailand (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Tourism in Trat province - home tofamous islands in the Gulf of Thailand such as Koh Kud, Koh Mak and Koh Chang, isgradually improving as visitors start to return after pandemic restrictionseased.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is confident tourismwill bounce back in the second half of this year.
According to Phatcharin Sawettarat, director of TAT'sTrat Office, the province welcomed 932,115 visitors in the first five months of2023, including nearly 350,000 foreigners, adding that they brought about 9 billion THB (250 millionUSD).
She attributed the increasing number of tourists to the organisation of many festivals held in the province, such as Songkran and thefruit festival.
The number of foreign tourists surged by 135.72% during thefirst five months when compared with the same period last year, while incomewas also up by 134.04%.
Phatcharin said that with these figures, they believe thattourism in Trat is going to pick up in the second half of this year.
Airlines will also increase flight frequency for the highseason while daily speedboat services will also increase to bring visitors fromthe mainland to Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kud, she noted.
In the current rainy season, TAT has launched campaigns toencourage visitors to visit Trat, Phatcharin said. Specifically, it has launcheda promotion event entitled "From the Mountain Mist in Nan to the Sea Mistin Trat".
It will also organise an event called "Sanae Silp ThinTrat (Charming Arts of Trat)" from July 21–23 to promote local foods andarts and crafts, she said.
TAT plans to promote the 800-year-old Wat Bubpharamtemple as a pilgrimage site and a second annual bikini run on Koh Mak, she wenton.
𓃲 Lastyear, Koh Mak was selected by the government to pilot a green tourismpolicy under the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economic Model, wherebythe island is oriented to develop into a tourist destination that can bothgenerate income for people while promoting good governance and providing clean,convenient and safe tourist attractions./.
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A pier on Koh Mak island in Trat province of Thailand (Photo: VNA) 
