Hebrides Find a New Home Near Thailand Courtesy of Tourist Board

14 Dec 2009 (The Scotsman)
(A similar story also appeared in The DailyMail, The Sun and on the BBC News website)

The perfect white sands and clear blue waters show an idyllic image of a tropical beach. The only sign that all is not quite as it seems is the range of …

Asian Fishing Tournament begins in Koh Chang

21 Nov, 2009
The International Fishing Cup Tournament Asia kicked off on Friday in Ko Chang, Trat province. 15 fishing teams from Asian countries including Thailand have signed up for the competition.
Major General Jaraspim Therarak, the manager of the Designated Area for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), yesterday presided over the opening …

British Couple Subjected to Vile ‘Clockwork Orange’ Style Sex Attack on Thailand Holiday

28 Nov, 2009
(From The Daily Mail, UK)

A British couple have become victims of a horrendous Clockwork Orange-style sex attack ordeal while on holiday in Thailand.  The professional couple had chosen the Thai holiday island of Koh Chang to round off a memorable one-year sabbatical from their jobs touring the world.   …

Koh Chang Closure Deferred

12 Nov, 2009
Residents of Koh Chang angered at losing land to the government in a dispute over decades-old satellite images have deferred a decision to close down the island after Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch stepped in.
The residents, many involved in Koh Chang’s booming tourism industry, yesterday agreed to wait until …

Koh Chang Protest Hots Up

Nov 11, 2009
TRAT — Leaders on Koh Chang will decide today whether to close the tourist island to visitors to pressure the government to solve a long-running land dispute with the navy.
Residents, led by local leaders and politicians, are threatening to close off the island to visitors on Friday unless …

Better Online Marketing Skills For Koh Chang

BANGKOK, 9 November 2009 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) arranges an online marketing training program for Ko Chang tourism entrepreneurs in Trat province.
TAT information technology department director Phanom Kaributra said that the training would help local entrepreneurs expand their businesses as there was a growing potential in …

Koh Chang Precautionary Measures to Prevent Rip Current Danger

13 October, 2009
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Official in Trat province revealed statistics showing that in the past 5 years, Rip Currents caused more than 40 deaths in Ko Chang coastal area. Thus under the 1.15 million baht funding supported by the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), the …

A Jumbo Challenge on Isle of Elephants

10 October 2009 IT’S like hiding an elephant: not easy, but the Thais have managed to keep Koh Chang, or Elephant Island, largely to themselves. This is an achievement given that Koh Chang, in the east of Thailand, in the province of Trat on the Cambodian border, is the second largest island in the kingdom after Phuket.

Business Down a Steep 33% Among ATTA members (Koh Chang Hotelier Suicide)

25 September 2009
Members of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) have seen their client numbers plunge 33 per cent, with only 1.12 million inbound tourists year to date as of this past Sunday.
The sharp decline signals a continuation of troubles in the tourism industry and is prompting more calls …

Koh Chang Sees Signs of Tourism Recovery

18 Sept, 2009
Chairman of the Koh Chang Hotels and Resorts Association Sophon Junderm pointed out that the tourism business on Koh Chang saw obvious signs of recovery as 80% of rooms on the island have been booked during October to December.
He indicated that 90% to 100% of accommodations were expected …

Ambassador: Don't Ignore Eco-Tourism

11 August, 2009
Thailand could lose millions of international tourists if the kingdom fails to come up with greater efforts to promote eco-tourism amid growing global concerns over climate change, says German Ambassador to Thailand Hanns Schumacher.
There is not enough concern about sustainable development at tourist destinations, which is crucial in …

Mayor Orders Koh Chang To Clean Up

27 July, 2009
A municipal ordinance is being issued to establish order on popular Koh Chang in Trat. Order of the day is to lose the garbage.
Saran Jirangsri, mayor of the Koh Chang tambon municipality, said the resort island was facing many problems – from leftover building materials littering the …