Thailand’s Koh Kut and Koh Mak overwhelmed by tourist surge
Tourists flock to two Thai islands with accommodation booked-out and sea transport pushed to the max
Sunseekers are swarming to two of Thailand’s lesser-known island paradises, sending ferry services into overdrive and fully booking out thousands of rooms — and it’s all thanks to a surge in online buzz and back-to-back public holidays.
Koh Kut and Koh Mak, tucked away in Trat province’s eastern waters, have rapidly climbed the travel charts, becoming some of the country’s top-searched destinations on Google and other platforms. Tourism officials say the boom began in April and has shown no signs of slowing.
Yesterday alone, more than 30 boats — including over 20 high-speed ferries — made their way to the islands, carrying eager tourists hoping to beat the crowds and soak up some pre-monsoon sun.
The rush has prompted ferry operators to scramble. “There were so many holidaymakers over the past month that we had to add three more ferry trips on Saturday [today],” said Autthapon Klinthab, manager of Boonsiri Ferry. He added that travel numbers this year have already outpaced the same period last year.
Apart from Boonsiri, operators Seudamgo and Koh Kood Express have also increased their services to meet soaring demand, particularly during the midday rush when passenger numbers peak, reported Bangkok Post.
Local tourism authorities say more than 10,000 people are expected to visit the islands during this high-demand stretch. “Over 1,000 hotel rooms on Koh Kut and around 500 on Koh Mak are fully booked,” confirmed Koh Kut District Chief Phairat Soysang. “Only a few homestays still have availability.”
Korakot Opas, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Trat office, credits the boom to strong promotional campaigns and a flurry of online interest.
“The islands have consistently ranked among Thailand’s most-searched destinations on various digital platforms.”
To keep the tourism wave rolling, officials have lined up several events, including the popular Trat Fruit Fair and the much-anticipated Trat Regatta 2025 sailing competition, which sets sail today.
Latest Thailand News
Follow The Thaiger on Google News:
