After Koh Kradan was named the best beach in the world, a significant increase in tourists led to growing environmental concerns.
Following its top ranking in the UK’s World Beach Guide for 2023, arrivals on the island off the coast of Trang province have increased sixfold, from 300 to 2,000 per day.
Koh Kradan is well known for its palm-lined powdery white dunes, clear waters, and coral reefs teeming with marine life.
On the tiny island in the Andaman Sea, nevertheless, both locals and authorities are worried about the present high number of tourists.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism minister, has promised to work with the governor of Trang to identify solutions to deal with the increase in visitors.
In order to give beaches, coral reefs, and marine life time to recuperate, the island and the adjacent Hat Chao Mai National Park will be closed beginning on July 1.
Koh Kradan knocked over some of the most well-known stretches of sand in the world to be crowned the top beach in the world’s top 100 beaches two weeks ago.
But the island only has seven lodging options: Seven Seas Resort, Mook Lanta Resort, Reef Resort, Koh Kradan Beach Resort, Ao Niang Beach Resort, Kalume Kradan Village, and Paradise Lost Resort.
The demand for accommodations for the Songkran festival last weekend spread to adjacent islands like Koh Mook and Koh Libong, which are 40 minutes away, as all of the lodging on Koh Kradan was fully occupied.
The tourism and environment ministries have committed to making measures to reduce crowding and safeguard the island’s natural ecosystem from the unexpected increase of tourists.
Approximately 60% of visitors are from outside the country, primarily from Europe, and they stay for an average of 3-5 nights, according to tourism statistics. Thai visitors make up the remaining 40%.
For 2023, five Thai beaches made the top 100 list. Railay Beach in Krabi ranks ninth, Freedom Beach in Phuket comes in at number eighteen, Hat Laem Haad on Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga comes in at number twenty-one, and Ao Ton Sai on Koh Tao in Surat Thani comes in at number forty-four.
