Bridge to connect Koh Yao islands

PHANG NGA: Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi islands are to be connected by a suspension bridge and a luxury hotel will be developed on one of the islands, District Chief Songpol Konkaew told the Gazette yesterday. An 8-million baht budget has already been issued by the central government to study the bridge project’s technical and financial requirements, he said. “We have not yet set a construction schedule because we are still in the preliminary planning stages, but I can say with 100% certainty that the bridge will be built,” K. Songpol said, adding that the project would facilitate travel between the two islands and improve tourism. K. Songpol said that the proposed bridge would be high enough to allow large ships to pass beneath it. Currently, the islands are famous for eco-tourism. The predominantly Muslim population has received praise nationally and internationally for sustainable development and for its innovative “homestay” tourism, whereby tourists can stay in the homes of local residents. “Most local people agree with the bridge project because it will allow them to find work near home,” K. Songpol said. He also announced that a major hotel group was planning to develop a five-star luxury resort on Koh Yao Noi. He said the owner was a Bangkok businessman who bought land on the island a long time ago and now hopes to spend the rest of his life there. Another project, the 30-room four-star Koh Yao Paradise, is nearing completion, he added.