Koh Samui faces a water shortage as demand continues to outpace supply.
A severe drought and the peak travel season have left Koh Samui facing a water shortage that is affecting businesses, prompting tourism operators to call for greater investment in water infrastructure to keep pace with rising visitor numbers.Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, vice-president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said tourism in Samui this year is performing better than usual despite the Middle East conflict, as the resumption of flights has encouraged tourists to plan their trips.
Unlike the low season in the Andaman provinces, June and July are considered the island's peak season, attracting robust occupancy rates, he said.
However, Samui is facing extremely dry weather caused by the El Niño phenomenon, resulting in a prolonged drought and reducing the volume of raw water available for consumption.
Demand for water increases annually, and even during off-peak months, visitor arrivals exceed those recorded before the pandemic, said Mr Ratchaporn.
