Oil spill threatening tourism recovery on Koh Samet

Koh Samet’s fragile tourism sector, already battered by Covid-19, now faces another threat from an oil spill heading for the island’s beaches. Sarinthip Tupmongkholsup from the Tourism Association of Koh Samet is reminded of a 2013 oil spill at the island’s Ao Phrao and is desperate to avoid a repeat scenario.

“We do not want a repeat of the terrible spill at Ao Phrao Bay, as locals worked for years to clean it up.”

She goes on to say the beach’s natural resources still haven’t recovered from the 2013 leak and, despite the incident taking place in just one area, the huge amount of crude oil led to poor air quality all over the island and affected tourism demand.

According to a Bangkok Post report, the Pollution Control Department says between 180,000 and 200,000 litres of the 400,000-litre spill are headed for Mae Ramphueng Beach and the Khao Laem Ya–Mu Koh Samet…