What do you think is the best way to develop in future? Koh Phangan has a lot of potential besides beeing just a party place. Total votes: 37   develop more ECO Tourism type of attraction   get Phangan more Family Friendly   more exclusive upper class resorts   offer more daytime activities    (Display results)

Previous Topics: What are Koh Phangan's most serious Problems? What do you like most about Koh Phangan?

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15th June 2005 - 09:01:26 PM

103 : Joe & Sarah

First time in Koh Phangan in 1981 and then for 4 years, from 1983 to 1987 with Mr Charn's family (today's Suntown Bungalow) and met my (western) wife there. I never lost my love for Thailand, the people and their way of life. Sadly, we only managed to get back to my Paradise Island, early in 2005 but ohhh horror, the crystal clear and tranquil beach of Ao Nai Wok has become noisy from all the boats going to Koh Tao, the beach is full of glass and the water is completely lifeless. No Thai woman walking along the beach anymore, collecting fresh mussels or catch fish. Mo one seams to collect the coconuts from the trees and they are left to rot wherever they fall. Definitely an other paradise lost to modern, western values, although not as bad as in Koh Samui or Koh Tao. Despite the disappearance of a paradise, we still love the island and the friends we have there and will be back this summer again. Joe & Sarah

15th June 2005 - 10:04:37 AM

102 : Chillumpuffer

Sorry what I meant to say is walk to Haad Rin over the rocks and along the beach ??

15th June 2005 - 10:03:32 AM

101 : Chillumpuffer

Simon I will have some very interesting photos of the island ready for next week. If i remember some of a very deserted looking Thong Sala. If possible others can try and match the same scene 2005 style? One thing i asked the other day - is it still possible to walk from Booms Cafe at Ban Khai to Haad Rin ?

11th June 2005 - 09:10:31 PM

100 : seville

Well here is a start of an idea that Simon and I are kicking around and anyone and everyone is welcome to join in and that is to form a group of people that will dialog with each other about what we can do to turn the tide of what is happening on the island. First off, is to get as many people on board via the net, then create some kind of news letter that is in Thai/English and get it out there to the masses on the island. We all have tons of friends that say, "yes something should be done, but what can you do? the Thai don't listen or care." Well that's not true, they do listen and many of them are very concerned about what is going on around them, it's just not in there nature to cause a big fuse, nor do they have a lot of time on their hands to really work on some kind of campaign to change things. Also, the language is a big problem. I think a lot of us don't speak Thai and we should!! A lot of us who are westerners have a lot of time on our hands compared to the Thais and it's going to take those of us who know all about what happens when big corperations move into an area to educate the Thai people on the dangers. I can understand your comment about exploiting the land for National Park and hikking trails and the like, but if we want to keep Phangan in tact a move to have more of it be national park is a better safe guard then nothing. And fine Jonny, we all know that people want to fly down from BKK. Great!!! let them fly into Samui and Sarat and take the boat over. The fact that this island does not have an airport is one of the reasons that a lot of people get off the plane and head right to the pier to get off Samui. We need to get the ears of the powers that be and explain to them that they can sustain the island and take care of the people that live here now and who have lived here for generations, if the island offers something different then Samui and Phuket. That being: Bungalows and resorts to fit all kinds of Tourist, we have that already. More oppertunity to hike and see what kind of wildlife and plant life is on the island. More activities for the Health minded traveler. More oppertunity to meet and stay with Jai Dee Thai families and learn more about what their lives are like. Promote the islanders that know how to make natural medicines and the like to do more of it. Coconut oil is great, but there is a lot more that the locals know how to make. And getting all the wonderful Thai treats to the people who are staying here for two weeks. Let the people who want every place they go to be familar and the same go some place else. If Phangan can remain and even become more unique, it will have longevity as a destination. The best thing we can do is be examples of how to do things that will make a little money and attract the type of tourist that the Thai people want to see come and stay. The Thais are fed up with the type of people that are coming here, but don't know how to change it. Fixing up old bungalows instead of building new ones with AC would be one way. The list goes on and we can help our Thai friends and ourselves if we work together.

11th June 2005 - 08:08:01 AM

99 : jonny

Simon,... I have lots and lots of photos of Phangan and would love to share them with people if they can be loaded onto this cool website. These are not old photos but still very nice images of Phangan.

11th June 2005 - 08:00:52 AM

98 : jonny boy

I am with you guys, I don’t want Phangan ruined either when I say "exploit" for myself the definition is a bit warped. Making National Park, would be, in my view exploiting Phangan but not in the way that most people would associate the word "exploit" with. Exploiting Phangan to get a National Park so people can trek inside it would be exploitation in my view. I still think people would use an airport if we had one, it would make money for the owner, that’s why someone out there wants to build one. People would use it there are so many older people; less experienced not even travel before that book the connecting flight to Samui with there ticket to Thailand. I bet if I stood down at the Lomparah pier and asked people getting off the boat how they got down here, lots would say by plane. They are the two week holiday makers who even book their resort through the internet before they come. People like my sister and her bf, both late twenties in age with good career jobs in England, they cam last year. They didn’t want to get on a train for 12 hours or a cramped bus, they only had three weeks over here and for them 50 pounds seemed a bargin for a flight. They loved Phangan and have told all their friends back home now they are all coming next year so that’s about 20 tickets down to Samui for Bangkok Air. I agree with Seville that most traveler are looking for the quite beach atmosphere than the club med but that’s the point, less and less travelers are coming to Phangan when you look at in the context of all types of people coming here. I think a few years ago 95% of foreigners who cam here where travelers/backpackers. I cannot believe that number is still 95%, it has dropped as more two week holiday makers have come, maybe now only 85% backpackers, this will continue to drop. I believe the most important thing we can do for Phangan is not come here and buy land as a foreigner, it should be kept for as long as possible within the Thai families, that way unscrupulous developers are kept out (for now). It’s like some Thai people I know here, they have 100 Rai all NSS in the mountain, spectacular sea views and the rest but they want to sell it. If they do the land will be lost forever from there family and its most likely they wont put the money to good use and in a few years it would have all gone on failed business. What they should do if they wanted to protect their wealth, family and the environment of Phangan is to just sell a little for a lot and release more if they need to later. That way large scale building is not done as they haven’t got these large parcels of land they would otherwise have. So what can we do to make sure an Airport is never built here? If anyone has any suggestions then I would like to hear them and maybe something can be done so one is never built so Phangan can remain a Paradise Island. Also if anyone has any ideas about how someone could help to environment here, not by donation of money as I don’t trust they would put it to good use. For example, myself and a good friend are currently working with a local teacher compiling a list of items the schools need and we will donate these items to them. So if anyone has any ideas for the environment, then please say. We have been thinking about planting trees on all some of those bald land patches if the owners will allow us or donating trees to Thong Sala to plant along the street or wherever…… things like this?....ideas?...

11th June 2005 - 06:53:14 AM

97 : Simon

I think the tourist business depenent locals here should realize, that following the path of Samui, means for them loosing influence and money (thats something they worry about), because big resorts and Club Med style things won't be owned by locals and in many cases they even don't employ locals. Seville you are right, Phangan should promote things like trekking and other activities then party. We organize since last year trekking tours to Kao Raa. http://phanganexplorer.ath.cx/index.php/Home/53

10th June 2005 - 07:03:00 PM

96 : seville

I'm with Chili on speaking out about the idea of an airport and that trying to get the powers that be take a look at the impact on an island that does not have enough water to support the infrastucture that is already on the island. I also agree with Chili in that many travelers are looking for the unspoiled quiet little beaches more then the Club Med type atmosphere. Pop over to Samui it's a mess and businesses are struggling because there are just too many places to choose from. Phangan is haveing the same struggle. I don't know what to tell you on the airport on Samui. I read an artical in the fall, that I could not find, that said the airport was approved. But as you can see what I did find was the transportation authority is saying no. I do agree that some people would use an airport if built. The idea is to not allow it to happen. It is not needed. There are far more important issues that the island should be looking at then building an airport. The building is out of control and tourism is on the decline. Look at the bungalows on the hill in Had Rin that are just sitting there, because someone ran out of money to finish them off. Phangan should be more thought full of how to cater to the tourist that have been coming there for years and stop listening to TAT that has some idea, that big fancy resorts is what everyone wants. People for years have been coming to Phangan and landing in the small bungalows because they heard from a friend how great it was to go someplace rustic, have great meals at a great price and meet some really nice local people. That's what most of the tourist that come to Phangan want. Then there is the Full Moon party people. These two types of tourist have served the island very well and people could make some money. There are plenty of places to suit everyones taste on the island. If someone was clever they would buy big plots of land like Jonny said and create more nature areas for people to go on treks. Clear simple single track trails and charge a small few for up keep. The elephant trekking does not make me excited for all kinds of reasons, but I'd rather see that then another Drop Inn Club that's wants to kiss the a@%$# of the rude f**** that seem to have taken over Had Rin.

10th June 2005 - 06:13:52 PM

95 : Simon

Chillumpuffer, "I will undertake to convert my old photos of KPG to Digital and share them if anyones interested." ... great .. I will set up an FTP - Account on my server so you can upload Photos directly into my Photo Gallery ... a sub section called "Good old days" or something like that ;-) ...

10th June 2005 - 06:11:36 PM

94 : Simon

I'm not a financial advisor, at least not professional ... but I think as long as you have to pay land in thai baht, the relation between price of the land and currency exchange rates does matter, when you use forein money. But maybe I need to make my point more clear ... I do belive that Koh Phangan will get more developed, but I disagree with the idea of "upper class" things will make backbackers disapper, not in the near future. Koh Phangan doen't grow at the same speed everywhere ... the north and west side are still a big difference the the mad house in haad rin and the whole area from Thongsala to Ban Kai. The airport is wrong, Samui is really enough, since they get their 2. airport anyway.

10th June 2005 - 11:35:40 AM

93 : Chillumpuffer

Jonny Phangan Paradise Island ??? I think most peoples' view of a Paradise Island would be swaying palms, the sound of the sea, peace and tranquility. The smell and noise of an airstrip on KPG would certainly not fit the bill at all.If my memory serves me correct is it only a 20-30 min boat ride from Samui? Come on. 30 minutes of a 2 week holiday !! Why would an airstrip be good business for KPG? If you live on KPG. CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT As far as the English, whom i am one, would rather fly to Samui? I have very bad memories of a Plain crash on Samui in 1990/1991. The weather was dreadful (as it can be in Nov/Dec)I for one would certainly think twice about flying, and anyway the train can be a real pleasure. Does the night boat still chug its way from the mainland?? I do get quite confused over whats being said here. Some want the island to retain its "Paradise Island" image, some want more development (i suspect these are the ones who want to get fat on it). But always healthy to get views on this As I have said a few times on this site. Budget travellers of the late 80's/90's were pioneers of this island. Long term travellers who respected the locals, contributed far greater than 2 week holiday makers (to be honest they didn't exist in 1989). Humans don't always "go to the nicest places and exploit it". That is a capatalist, thoroughly nasty point of view in my opinion. I stayed on KPG on and off for 4 years from 1989 - 1993, I never once ripped off, exploited and treated the island like it was my divine right to treat it like an extension of my life in the west. And there many who shared that ethos. We learnt a bit of Thai, shared the food, shopped when one went to Thong Sala to save time . My Mama gave me an honesty book for food & drink etc and I paid every 2 weeks. As soon as I heard stories of " i left without paying hee hee" then i knew the decline. The honesty book would be replaced and the trust was gone. Once I remember someone bragging about this as he stepped on the boat to leave and he was turfed off into the sea, much to the cheers of all. One year I was horrified to arrive at Thong Sala to see a hotel and Televisions in bars. Thats how it was. I am thinking, and this is really a tough call for me, of visiting KPG next april. Will I be shocked, I think so. But I am always asking myself "how can the physical shore line change?". OK bungalows come and go, concrete replaces coconut etc. All I want to know is can you still walk from Ban Khai to Haad Rin along the beach and over the rocks ?? This was a journey I did many times. On moonlight nights it was easy to do without a torch. Man what memories. Believe me i once walked to Haad Rin and didn't come across anyone until the walk through to Tommys. Fact. No Banks, no e-mail, no internet, no TV. I will undertake to convert my old photos of KPG to Digital and share them if anyones interested. Cheers simon for this site.

10th June 2005 - 08:43:32 AM

92 : jonny boy

So.... whats happening? Are they building a second airport or not on samui? Look, honestly I don’t know about a airport on Phangan but I think its good for business on Phangan either way. Personally I would not like them to build one here instead pushing ahead with National Park zoning would please me more. As for this secret site of mine, I will tell you where it is. Drive past the turn off to Maehaad, towards Chaloklum and about 200 meters after the Maehaad turning is a road cutting into the jungle on your right. So why do I suspect something here? Well first off all the access road is 8m wide, ok I have not measured it but guestimate its 8m, therefore to build such a road under Thai law would mean permission for its development from Surrathani and it must serve a purpose. This is Thai law, road cannot be built 8m wide even if the land is NSS or even Chanute. Second, there is two water pipes going up either side of this road, what for? Maybe for large scale construction, drive up the road and your see a large collection of water tanks, again what for? So OK, maybe they are building a resort there, doubtful as it’s a totally crap position, no sea view, no local shops, kinda the middle of nowhere. Thirdly I have witnessed myself, men in orange uniform, survey the area I have seen them go up this road plus round the other side where the run way would end. I caught them popping out of a bush at the back of Chaloklum village. These men are not from the Phangan land office, I know the land office guys and sadly after the tragic accident they only have one guy in the office and he was definitely not with these orange survey guys. Then there’s the fact that it would be feasible to build here, look on the map and you’ll see the contours level out for about 1.5km. A runway can definitely be built there and there is little in the way of buildings up there. Ok it’s a short runway but have a look at Sydney's East-West runway, its possible. Simon are you a financial advisor? Cus I am a qualified financial adviser I used to work for Lehman Brothers in Sydney, what you say about the Thai Baht holds no relevance to land prices. And I disagree, a lot of people would use the airport if we had one, its only people on a budget who won’t use it, and there are fewer and fewer of these type of people each year. In the last few years I have had lots of friends come over from England and every single one has taken a flight to Samui. If someone is on a two week holiday from Europe the last thing they want to do is sit on a bus or a train for 12 hours, they don’t care about spending 50 pounds to fly down, that only a round of drinks in England. The island will change, the visitors will change and business will boom, sorry if some people don’t like to entertain this thought buts that’s life, humans will always go to the nicest place and exploit it to its full. P.S. Simon, great work on this website, although I may disagree with some of your points, you certainly make useful websites, top stuff, five thumbs up  keep it up, professional websites like this are great for the Phangan Paradise Island.

08th June 2005 - 07:15:58 PM

91 : seville

Here's the big secret about the Samui Airport uncovered Jonny you might want to start trying to get out a little bit. There is a new top secret information source out there called, newspapers. One airport is enough on Samui May 2,2005 Bangkok Post Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island, a popular holiday destination for foreigners and the centre of yet another construction boom spiralling out of control. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit visited Samui last week to kick off a high-profile revival of the scheme to build a second airport on an island that would fit into a small corner of Bangkok. The estimated cost of this boondoggle is 800 million baht plus land expropriation plus massive environmental cost, beginning with the levelling of an entire small mountain. Koh Samui has one airport, and does not need another. Category : TEXT/ General News END OF MONOPOLY: New airport for Ko Samui THAI has plan to begin flights to tourist resort The Transport Ministry plans to end Bangkok Airways' airport monopoly on Samui Island by constructing a second airport at a cost of Bt600 million. "The Transport Ministry will complete a feasibility study on the second airport on Samui within three weeks," said Deputy Transport Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri. Privately run Bangkok Airways is the only domestic airline operating air services to the island's airport, which the carrier built more than 10 years ago. However, tourists have complained for a long time that Bangkok Airways' fares are too expensive. Currently, a round-trip ticket on the Bangkok-Samui route costs more than Bt6,000. National carrier Thai Airways International has had a plan to launch a new service to Samui in the works for several years. Vichet said the time had come for a second airport, which the ministry believes will be necessary to cope with expected growth in domestic air traffic. There are 26 provincial airports, many of which are under-utilised. Some 21 of these are controlled by the Department of Aviation, Samui is controlled by Bangkok Airways, while Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai airports are run by Airports of Thailand Plc. The Transport Ministry wants to expand the capacity of provincial airports to cope with the expected growth of domestic passenger traffic from 8 million to 20 million per year within five years. Low-cost airlines are expected to propel substantial growth in the domestic market. Chalor Kocharat, director-general of the Department of Aviation, said landing fees at Samui Airport - Bt90,000 - are too high. This compares to just Bt10,000 at many other provincial airports. The cost of constructing a new airport on the island would be no more than Bt600 million, he said. "The new airport will support the growth of tourism on Samui," he said. The Transport Ministry also wants to construct new airports in Mae Hong Son and Uttaradit provinces. Bangkok Airways called an executive meeting yesterday to discuss the government's plan to build a second airport on Samui. --The Nation 2003-12-30

07th June 2005 - 09:51:18 PM

90 : Simon

OK, Jonny is now our offical under cover agent (let's call him Agent '006') to uncover the secret airport plot ... I also think the prices for land will continue to rise, but on the other side the Thai Baht is less worth every year, the inflation rate is high and once a peak is reach it will normalize. An airport would be a economical desaster ... most Phangan visitors won't use it.

07th June 2005 - 05:42:35 PM

89 : Jonnies

Why not a secret location? Why should the locals know? If you where to build an airport, would you want everyone to know?.... I wouldn’t. Ask the 'locals' I cannot, there are no locals there, about 30 years ago they all moved out, finished mining and cultivating the site and went down to live in the village to become fishermen. The thought of lounging on a squid boat all night must have seemed better then bashing solid granite with hammers in the blistering heat, attempting to mine for tin. I know the nearest locals and can speak Thai so have spoken with them, they know nothing of an airport. I have seen there Nor Sor papers for hundreds of Rai they own and also know from aerial maps that their land is a small piece of the flat titled uninhabited land ideal for a runway. I have seen no where else on the Island suitable for a runway, except over on the East of Phangan but that’s meant to be protected forest, so no airport there. They just build the terminal and the rest and knock the runway through at the last minute. Its like what they are doing down at Lamai in Samui, its so obvious that they are building a second airport, everyone knows it but whoever is doing it wont admit it, it got a bit obvious though when a 5km flat strip of coconuts suddenly disappeared. Anyway just to say again, I am only stabbing in the dark with this one, if I was a betting man I would bet against and airport being built here. It was just a gut feeling I had when I saw this site, its terrain and what there where doing there, its all a bit strange like so many wonderful things on Phangan. “What's the price of land have to do with the type of visitor that comes here?” Everything, absolutely everything and more, it’s the single most important factor. The type and in particular the wealth of the visitor that comes here is directly proportional to the value of property. This can be shown with human geography and mathematics, unless anyone has a post-grad in geography and would like to disagree on this point.

06th June 2005 - 01:32:38 PM

88 : Chillumpuffer

Seville Sorry now I know !!

05th June 2005 - 10:02:18 PM

87 : seville

Hey there fellas good to see the conversation is still going. I'm a women by the way and Chili I can understand completely where your coming from,but I agree with Simon in the idea of land being bought by people to build single family homes or small bungalows to help keep the Big Huge Resorts at bay. Attracting more long time visitors is something I'm hopefull about. They are the people who live in an area, not just trash it with no thought of the long term impact. Andy I see has not returned to the conversation and that's not surprising to me, but maybe he will answer some of the questions put to him... Jonny, maybe you don't drink, but if the air strip has been started,it's not going to be some "secret" location. There are no secrets with the locals on Phangan and if it's being built, you better believe the Thais know about it and where. If you have an idea of "where" it is simple ask the people that live near by that are local Thais. If they know you they'll be able to tell you everything you need to know and you can get back to us. What's the price of land have to do with the type of visitor that comes here? Chili, I've been living 6 months out of the year on Phangan for the last two years, split between two trips a year. There's a big up swell of westerns where I live that are very concerned with the changes that have been going on in the last two years and I'm hoping to get people out of the attitude that, "we can't do anything, because the Thai don't care." Simon is 1000% correct; Farangs are far more concerned with the impact of new building and creating ways of maintaining the ecological soundness of an area that they are living in or planning on building. I truely believe that Phangans best chance of not becoming Samui is if the Westerns band together and then work on bringing the Thais they are close to into the understanding of the long term effects of what going on. One of the things that is surprising and disturbing about Thailand is the amount of Farangs that live here and don't speak or read Thai. But then bash the Thai people in general for being this or that. Cheers look forward to more dialog.

05th June 2005 - 06:47:49 AM

86 : Jonny

Well I dont drink and I only "beleive" that I think I know where the aiport is allready being built. There are some clues there like the access road which is so large it would need government permission to knock through, other clues are also present at the site. Yeah I'm only guessing but my gut instinct does have a good track record. Yes I agree land can be found cheaper than 1m baht in the mountains, I know a friend that has just brought a Rai inland for 250k but theres no seaview, hence the price. Try and find one single Rai up in the hills close to a beach with spectacular sea views, your be pushed to find it for under 1m, unlesss you brought a larger piece but then thats not a single Rai anymore Whereas even 2 years ago it could have been brought for 80k. I dont know about Mikes site, have to go and have a look....

04th June 2005 - 06:49:42 PM

85 : Simon

Jonny ... a Airport Construction is going on ... are you sure you mean Koh Phangan? "I wont tell you where the site is but if you look hard enough you can find it" ... I don't know want you are drinking ... but don't tell me ... please ... and about 1m baht / rai for mountain land ... there is a lot cheaper land around the island, if you keep a bit away from the beach. Maybe visit Mikes Site ... he can help you out ... http://a-beachplace.com/

04th June 2005 - 07:51:21 AM

84 : johny

This may sound funny but I beleive construction of phangan airport has allready started, I wont tell you where the site is but if you look hard enough you can find it, no runway yet that will be the last thing they do as its get kind off obvoius when a runway sunddenly appears from nowhere. also this is not a major airport only a short runway for small planes, the ones that land on Samui cannopt land here the runway is just not long enough. Also in refernce to easlier emails I beleive the backpackers will all leave this island and a different type of people will come in, why? simply becuase the price of land will become very high, todays land values are still very low, even 1m baht a rai in the mountains is low.

 

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