After being ranked No. 1 among the Top 100 Beaches on Earth by the UK’s World Beach Guide, Koh Kradan near Trang has been inundated with visitors this month.
The governor responded by announcing development plans on Wednesday that would transform the tiny island into a significant tourist attraction. He was addressing following a meeting of investors, local companies, and government organizations to explore how to promote sustainable tourism while having the least possible negative effects on Kradan’s beautiful environment.
Following the World Beach Guide designation, arrivals on Kradang increased from 300 to 2,000 per day on average, raising hopes of a tourism boom after three years of Covid devastation.
The tiny island, which is only 2.4 square kilometers in size and is located in the Andaman Sea, was worried that the unexpected inflow might cause serious harm.
Koh Kradan, which is approximately 10 kilometers from the mainland in Hat Chao Mai National Park, is renowned for its immaculate white sands and coral reefs abounding with marine life.
The island will be managed and preserved by a permanent management team under the auspices of the national park, according to Kajornsak.
The crew, which will be led by the Hat Chao Mai National Park’s chief, will be in charge of monitoring the island’s garbage/waste disposal, diving activities, and orderly boat docking. All facets of environmental management will be covered, including alternating snorkeling and diving zones to protect coral reefs. Although no information on a tourist quota was provided, the team would also control the quantity of visitors.
An 8 million baht budget provided by the Andaman provinces will be used to construct a sustainable tourism hub where guests may find lodging, food, and other services.
Additionally, local diving businesses plan excursions to look at coral reefs, remove trash from the seafloor, and compete for a world record with 700–800 experienced divers.
However, the National Park Department will close Koh Kradan and the nearby islands of Koh Chuak, Koh Waen, and Koh Muk from June 1 to September 30 for four months of yearly rehabilitation during the monsoon.
From October 1 to May 31, the tourist season will be back.
The National Parks Department has been contacted in a letter from the tourism industry in Trang province requesting that the islands remain open all year.
